OpenAI has officially launched a new initiative titled the ChatGPT for small business program, designed to assist entrepreneurs in scaling their operations and improving productivity through artificial intelligence. The program focuses on providing small business owners with practical resources, including hands-on virtual training sessions and access to in-person AI academies located within the United States.
Beyond educational resources, the initiative offers participants access to specialized agents and partnerships tailored specifically for small business workflows. OpenAI has also released a series of instructional guides intended to help new users integrate ChatGPT into their daily operations. Interested business owners can register for the program through a dedicated sign-up form provided on the company's website.
This announcement coincides with a significant growth milestone for the company, as OpenAI reported that its ChatGPT Work and Codex platforms have reached a combined total of 10 million users. This figure represents a doubling of the user base for Codex alone compared to earlier in July. The growth is part of a broader strategic push to promote ChatGPT Work, which functions as an agentic version of the standard chatbot capable of handling more complex productivity tasks.
The company has recently refined its desktop application, replacing the previous iteration with a version based on its standalone Codex software. This transition introduced more advanced capabilities, though it initially increased the complexity of the user interface. In response to user feedback, OpenAI has released several updates to the desktop app to improve navigation and balance the interaction between standard chat functions and automated workflows.
Recent software updates have specifically targeted improvements for long-form chats, sidebar management, and side-chat functionality. These adjustments are intended to streamline everyday workflows for users who rely on the platform for professional tasks. As the user base continues to expand, the company remains focused on optimizing the interface to ensure that the increased complexity of agentic features does not hinder ease of use.