OpenAI Partnered With SBDC for AI Training Workshops

The initiative aims to help small businesses automate tasks by training 150 advisors to lead workshops nationwide.

Updated on Sept. 30, 2026 in Artificial Intelligence

OpenAI Partnered With SBDC for AI Training Workshops

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OpenAI has entered a partnership with America's Small Business Development Center (SBDC) to provide artificial intelligence training to small business owners. This pilot program plans to reach 1,000 U.S. businesses by training 150 advisors to lead in-person workshops.

Why it matters

The collaboration seeks to accelerate the adoption of AI tools among smaller firms to automate routine tasks and improve operational efficiency. It follows a recent surge in usage, where 4 million small business employees utilized OpenAI tools in mid-September 2026.

The initiative involves training 150 advisors across a network of more than 1,000 SBDC local centers. The pilot aims to support 1,000 businesses in adopting automated workflows, building on the broader base of 4 million small business employees currently using OpenAI software.

The players

OpenAI

An AI research and deployment company that develops large language models and commercial software platforms.

America's Small Business Development Center

A national network funded by the U.S. Small Business Administration that provides counseling and training to small businesses.

The details

The training program focuses on practical application, teaching advisors how to customize artificial intelligence usage for specific business operational tasks. By coaching advisors—professionals who provide technical and management guidance to entrepreneurs—the program aims to decentralize knowledge about how to integrate automated systems into daily administrative workflows. This follows the July 2026 launch of OpenAI's dedicated small business program, which provides tools designed to scale operational capacity for smaller teams.

November 2025: OpenAI Academy partnered with DoorDash and SCORE.
July 2026: OpenAI launched a dedicated ChatGPT for small business program.
September 9-15, 2026: 4 million small business employees used OpenAI tools.
September 30, 2026: The partnership with SBDC was announced.

The Tech Race

The partnership extends the industry-wide push to embed large language models into the daily workflows of non-technical small businesses. This strategy mirrors efforts seen in late 2025 by OpenAI and its competitors to formalize training channels through established business associations.

Small business owners can expect the first workshops to roll out at local SBDC locations in the coming months. Participants will learn how to integrate automated tools into their current administrative workflows, potentially reducing time spent on manual task management.

The takeaway

This partnership highlights the industry's move to transition AI from a generalized tool to a localized service offering for small firms. Monitor the SBDC portal for the launch of workshop schedules in the coming months to determine when training becomes available in your region.