eBay and OpenAI have announced the launch of a new program called AI Activate, aimed at empowering small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) in the United Kingdom with artificial intelligence tools. This initiative, with a budget of £3 million, intends to provide tailored AI training and support to up to 10,000 SMBs selling on the eBay platform by the end of 2025.
As part of the program, participating businesses will receive personalized guidance on utilizing AI effectively, access to ChatGPT Enterprise for a full year, and assistance from a dedicated eBay team to help them develop custom GPTs. The final two months of 2025 will focus on online training, with plans to expand to in-person opportunities in 2026.
eBay has emphasized the importance of SMBs, which account for around three-fifths of employment in the UK and represent half of the private sector turnover. According to government research, an overwhelming 99.9% of the UK’s business population at the start of 2024 were classified as SMBs, underscoring the significance of this initiative.
“British small businesses should have access to the latest AI tools, which should not be limited to large corporations,” stated Eve Williams, General Manager of eBay UK. She expressed the company’s commitment to ensuring that these businesses can compete both nationally and globally.
The AI Activate program aims to unlock the benefits of AI across various functions, including financial analysis, marketing, inventory management, and customer research. eBay’s Chief AI Officer, Nitzan Mekel-Bobrov, highlighted that providing small businesses with similar tools and advantages as larger retailers can help them innovate and thrive in the AI era.
Recent findings reveal that while 69% of online businesses express excitement (43%) or curiosity (26%) about AI’s potential, many lack the necessary resources to fully leverage these technologies. Ronnie Chatterji, Chief Economist at OpenAI, remarked on the initiative, stating, “If we want to close the productivity gap, this is where to start.”
As eBay and OpenAI embark on this ambitious project, the potential for transforming the landscape of small business operations in the UK is substantial. By equipping these businesses with advanced AI tools and training, both companies aim to foster a more competitive environment that benefits the entire economy.
