OpenAI and Booking Boost AI for French SMEs

A Joint Initiative for French SMEs

OpenAI, the company behind ChatGPT, is partnering with Booking.com and the CCI Paris to launch the SME AI Accelerator, a free training program aimed at French small and medium-sized enterprises. This initiative seeks to structure the adoption of artificial intelligence, which, although rapid, often remains disorganized. A recent study highlights this massive adoption but also points out persistent gaps.

The Impact of AI on the Daily Lives of Leaders

Artificial intelligence has already begun to transform the daily lives of SME leaders. By taking over time-consuming tasks such as information research, email writing, or marketing content preparation, AI allows leaders to gain an average of 5.3 hours per week. This amounts to approximately 237 hours per year, which can be reinvested in higher-value activities. Among these activities, 29% of leaders use this time to brainstorm new ideas, 28% to improve their products or services, and 23% to refine their long-term strategy. Overall, 74% of leaders believe that AI makes them more effective.

Disparities in AI Adoption

Despite the general enthusiasm, inequalities persist in AI adoption. Leaders of medium-sized enterprises are more likely to use these technologies (86%) than self-employed workers (63%). Additionally, there are regional disparities: in the PACA region, 88% of leaders have adopted AI, compared to only 70% in Nouvelle-Aquitaine. Another major challenge is the phenomenon of "shadow AI," where 65% of employees use AI without a defined framework from their company, raising significant security concerns.

Addressing Adoption Barriers

The main obstacles to AI adoption in SMEs are data security (27%), lack of training (23%), and lack of time (22%). The SME AI Accelerator aims to overcome these barriers by offering practical workshops, demonstrations, and online resources through the OpenAI Academy, without requiring technical prerequisites.

Program Launch

The program will officially kick off on June 8, 2026, at the CCI Paris headquarters. This inaugural day will include real-world demonstrations, collaborative workshops to experiment with AI as a team, and testimonials from companies that have already adopted these technologies. Participants will have the opportunity to discover the famous design sprints and build sprints. Registrations are already open, and this event promises to be a key step for SMEs looking to structure their use of AI.

Martin Signoux, head of public affairs at OpenAI, emphasized that the main challenge is no longer just access to tools, but the ability to implement them effectively and securely. With 56% of leaders planning to adopt new uses of AI in the next three months, the ground is ripe for this transformation.