A workshop for small businesses that want to learn real AI skills, access live support, and use AI tools right away.

Running a small business means juggling marketing, customer communication, operations, hiring, and planning - often all in the same day. This workshop is designed to help you use ChatGPT in practical ways that immediately support your business.

Join OpenAI Academy, the California Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development, and the Central Coast/Monarch SBDC for a hands-on session designed for small business owners, operators, founders, and team leads. We’ll cover the fundamentals of using ChatGPT, explore ways you can incorporate AI into everyday business tasks, and then help you build an AI-powered solution tailored to your own work.

You’ll learn how to get better results with stronger prompts, when to use tools like Search, Data Analysis, Voice Mode, and Projects, and how to turn rough business inputs into usable outputs like customer-ready content, internal checklists, summaries, and next-step plans. You’ll also see practical demos and get guided time to build an AI tool for tasks like a customer FAQ assistant, proposal builder, or onboarding and training coach.

What to expect

1. A beginner-friendly introduction to ChatGPT for everyday business work
2. Practical guidance on getting better results with prompting
3. Live demos across marketing, customer communication, operations, and planning
4. Hands-on time to build one simple, reusable solution for your business
5. Support from facilitators as you test, improve, and save your workflow
6. Time to connect with other small business owners, operators, and partners

Who should attend

Los Angeles-area small business owners, operators, founders, and team leads who want practical, accessible ways to use AI in their daily work. No technical background is required. Bring a laptop or tablet so you can participate fully.