eBay, OpenAI Companion For AI Upskill Programme 

eBay has launched a completely funded AI programme to assist small companies higher incorporate AI instruments, like ChatGPT.

The programme, referred to as AI Activate, is price £3m and can grant 10,000 UK eBay sellers free entry to ChatGPT Enterprise for 12 months, plus tailor-made coaching classes.

AI will be transformative for small ecommerce manufacturers whose workload typically outweighs assets. But adoption stays uneven. eBay’s new programme is designed to vary that by serving to extra sellers use AI to work smarter, save time, and develop their gross sales.

What’s eBay’s AI Activate?

eBay’s AI Activate programme will provide 10,000 eBay sellers absolutely funded entry to AI instruments, coaching, and assist.

It’s launching in collaboration with OpenAI, which might be granting free entry to ChatGPT Enterprise for a full 12 months. eBay is the primary on-line market to supply this sort of AI assist to its sellers.

Alongside entry to ChatGPT, sellers can entry coaching on how one can get probably the most out of AI for his or her enterprise. To make sure sellers get most profit from ChatGPT, eBay’s AI staff will help in creating customized prompts to assist their particular enterprise wants.

In assist of the programme, Eve Williams, Basic Supervisor, eBay UK, mentioned, “The difficulty is now not whether or not companies ought to undertake AI. It’s how rapidly they’ll begin earlier than their rivals do.

“These companies and economies that don’t put money into AI now threat being left behind. That’s why eBay is investing to place world-class AI within the fingers of small companies and entrepreneurs, with no cost to them.”

The right way to become involved in AI Activate

Any UK enterprise that sells on eBay can register for the AI Activate programme. There are 10,000 spots obtainable for 2025, with purposes being managed by eBay’s in-house assist staff.

From October 1st, you may pre-register your curiosity in becoming a member of the programme. Spots might be assigned on a first-come, first-served foundation.

All you’ll want to do to be eligible is be registered as a UK enterprise vendor on eBay. At first, coaching will happen on-line, however will become in-person classes in 2026.

How will AI profit small ecommerce companies?

eBay’s AI Activate programme has been developed with direct enter from sellers, specializing in how AI can deal with on a regular basis enterprise challenges.

The programme explores sensible use circumstances similar to automating admin and finance duties, producing advertising and marketing content material and campaigns, analysing knowledge, and bettering product listings. By delegating these jobs to AI, sellers can deal with technique, creativity, and development.

Whereas small companies are eager to undertake AI, many nonetheless want steering to take action. In accordance with eBay’s stats, 69% of on-line sellers really feel both excited (43%) or curious (26%) about AI’s potential, however many are nonetheless uncertain how one can truly apply it.

After years of economic pressures, from the cost-of-living disaster to rising overheads, AI may provide a much-needed increase for SMEs. The IMF estimates the know-how may contribute as much as £470 billion to UK GDP by 2035.

Nonetheless, the rise of ecommerce AI hasn’t come with out controversy. Its rising presence in on-line content material and search particularly has sparked concern. Particularly, Google’s AI-driven “zero-click” summaries have been criticised for diverting site visitors away from small companies.