Texas small businesses are rapidly embracing artificial intelligence, and a recent Small Business AI Jam hosted by OpenAI in Houston highlighted the transformative potential of these tools. According to an article by Megan Mauro, Interim CEO of the Texas Association of Business, published in Texas Border Business, adoption of AI among small businesses has more than doubled in the past two years. A U.S. Chamber of Commerce report reveals that nearly 60% of small businesses now utilize generative AI, with 82% reporting workforce growth as a result.
The Houston event, one of only five held nationwide, brought together entrepreneurs from various industries, including retail, services, and restaurants, to learn practical ways AI can streamline operations. Co-hosted by TAB alongside partners such as DoorDash, SCORE, and the Houston Area Urban League Entrepreneurship Center, the workshop provided hands-on training on how AI can automate repetitive tasks, support marketing efforts, enhance customer service, analyze data, and inform strategic decision-making.
OpenAI’s team walked attendees through real-world use cases, showing how small companies can now build tools that previously required full development teams, significantly narrowing the tech gap between large corporations and small businesses. Participants left with actionable insights on using AI for content creation, inventory management, and personalized customer engagement.
The AI Jam is part of a broader statewide movement to support small business innovation. Texas has recently hosted additional AI-focused workshops with Google (in Richardson and Frisco), Meta (via its Community Accelerator program in San Antonio), and Amazon’s “Sellers in Your Community” event at TAB headquarters in Austin. These sessions aim to ensure Texas’s 3.1 million small businesses remain competitive in a rapidly evolving digital economy.
TAB leaders say AI literacy is becoming an essential skill for both entrepreneurs and the future workforce, and continued collaboration with major tech companies will help small businesses harness opportunities for growth, efficiency, and innovation.
Source: Texas Border Business
Author: Megan Mauro, Interim CEO, Texas Association of Business
Original story: https://texasborderbusiness.com/empowering-texas-small-businesses-with-ai/