How many small businesses will this partnership reach?

OpenAI plans to train around 150 Small Business Development Center advisors and aims to reach at least 1,000 small businesses through in-person training, with many more through one-on-one advising and resources developed together.

What did OpenAI's new report find about small business AI use?

The report, Small Businesses, Bigger Capabilities, found that in a recent week from September 9-15, around 4 million small-firm employees worldwide used OpenAI's tools. Nearly one in five of those users worked at a business with fewer than 10 employees.

What kind of help will small business owners actually get?

Participating SBDC networks will host at least one three-hour, hands-on Academy Workshop where owners build and test ways to use ChatGPT on real business tasks. Advisors will follow up afterward, and OpenAI and America's SBDC will create practical guides on topics like marketing, operations, manufacturing, exporting, and government contracting.

Large Language ModelsAI Business & IndustryOpenAI Blog4m agoOct 1, 2026, 01:00 JST

OpenAI, America's SBDC to train 150 advisors for small biz AI

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3 Key Points

What happened
OpenAI is partnering with America's SBDC to train around 150 advisors through OpenAI Academy's Community Trainer Program, aiming to reach at least 1,000 small businesses via workshops. Its new report found about 4 million small-firm employees used OpenAI tools in one week, September 9-15.
Why it matters
The partnership routes AI training through advisors small owners already trust, which may help owners who lack time or a dedicated specialist. The report suggests small teams are already turning to AI for finance, legal, and marketing work at rates at least three times those of larger businesses.
What to watch
The 150-advisor and 1,000-business figures are goals, not completed results, so the pilot hinges on whether SBDC networks sign on and owners keep using the tools. OpenAI says it will follow up with owners throughout the pilot to see what is helping and where more support is needed.

WHO IT HITSSmall business owners and the advisors at America's SBDC centers who support them, plus small teams already using ChatGPT Work for tasks like pricing research and outreach. Owners without a dedicated finance, legal, or marketing specialist may find these workshops the most accessible starting point.

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Context & Analysis

OpenAI's partnership with America's SBDC follows earlier small-business outreach efforts. Last November, OpenAI Academy teamed up with DoorDash, SCORE, and local business organizations for Small Business AI Jams in five U.S. cities, offering hands-on help with marketing, customer communications, and everyday operations. In July 2026, OpenAI introduced its ChatGPT for small business program, adding training and resources to help owners use AI at work. This new partnership extends that work by routing training through advisors who already support owners in their communities, rather than asking owners to seek out AI help on their own.

The report released alongside the partnership offers a snapshot of how small firms are already using these tools. The finding that agentic output tokens for products like ChatGPT Work and Codex made up two-thirds of all small business output tokens in August, up from one-third in April 2026, points to a rapid shift toward AI that acts rather than just answers. The report also notes that finance and accounting, supply chain, legal and compliance, and marketing each accounted for at least three times as large a share of small-business users' interactions with AI agents as they did for larger-business users, suggesting small teams lean on AI in areas where they may lack a dedicated specialist.

The pilot's success appears to hinge on whether SBDC advisors can turn initial training into lasting habits for owners. OpenAI says it will follow up with owners throughout the pilot to understand what is helping, what they are still using, and where they need more support. If owners drop the tools after the workshops, the partnership's reach may stay limited. If advisors can embed AI into routine advising, the model could become a template for reaching small businesses well beyond the initial 1,000 target.

FAQ

How many small businesses will this partnership reach?: OpenAI plans to train around 150 Small Business Development Center advisors and aims to reach at least 1,000 small businesses through in-person training, with many more through one-on-one advising and resources developed together.
What did OpenAI's new report find about small business AI use?: The report, Small Businesses, Bigger Capabilities, found that in a recent week from September 9-15, around 4 million small-firm employees worldwide used OpenAI's tools. Nearly one in five of those users worked at a business with fewer than 10 employees.
What kind of help will small business owners actually get?: Participating SBDC networks will host at least one three-hour, hands-on Academy Workshop where owners build and test ways to use ChatGPT on real business tasks. Advisors will follow up afterward, and OpenAI and America's SBDC will create practical guides on topics like marketing, operations, manufacturing, exporting, and government contracting.

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