OpenAI and Booking.com Launch SME AI Accelerator for European Businesses
Key Points
- OpenAI and Booking.com partner to launch the SME AI Accelerator.
- Program offers free training through workshops, virtual sessions, and the OpenAI Academy.
- Targeted at 20,000 small and medium-sized businesses in six European countries.
- Aims to raise AI adoption from 17% among SMEs to levels comparable with large enterprises.
- Highlights AI's potential to boost productivity, efficiency, and competitiveness.
- Part of a wider EU Economic Blueprint 2.0 plan supporting AI research and government access.
OpenAI has partnered with Booking.com to create the SME AI Accelerator, a program that will provide free, practical AI training to small and medium-sized businesses across six European countries. The initiative combines in‑person workshops, virtual sessions, and lessons from the OpenAI Academy to demonstrate how AI can boost productivity, efficiency, and competitiveness. Targeting 20,000 firms, the program aims to close the gap between AI adoption rates of large enterprises and SMEs, which currently stand at 55% versus 17% respectively. The effort forms part of a broader EU economic blueprint to strengthen the region’s AI ecosystem.
Program Overview
OpenAI and Booking.com have announced a joint effort to roll out the SME AI Accelerator, a free training program designed for small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) in Europe. The initiative will be launched in six countries: France, Germany, Italy, Poland, Ireland, and the United Kingdom. Participants will receive a blend of in‑person workshops, virtual sessions, and curriculum from the OpenAI Academy, giving them hands‑on experience with AI tools and practical use cases.
Target Audience and Scope
The accelerator is aimed at up to 20,000 SMBs, a segment that accounts for 99% of all businesses in the European Union. According to the announcement, AI adoption among larger enterprises reached 55% in 2025, while only 17% of SMEs reported using AI. The program seeks to bridge this disparity by demonstrating the productivity, efficiency, and competitiveness benefits that AI can deliver.
Training Content and Delivery
Training will focus on real‑world applications of AI, showing participants how to integrate AI into daily operations, improve decision‑making, and enhance customer experiences. The OpenAI Academy will provide structured lessons, while in‑person workshops and virtual sessions will reinforce learning through interactive exercises and expert guidance.
Strategic Importance
Booking.com Chief Business Officer James Waters emphasized the transformative potential of AI, stating, "AI is accelerating change across every industry, creating transformational opportunities for growth and innovation for businesses of all sizes." The partnership aligns with a broader EU Economic Blueprint 2.0 plan that includes support for research into youth safety and wellbeing, as well as providing governments with access to OpenAI resources.
Future Outlook
Details about exact dates, locations, and supporting organizations for local delivery will be announced in the coming months. By offering free, high‑quality training, the SME AI Accelerator aims to foster a robust AI ecosystem throughout Europe, unlocking new opportunities for growth and innovation among the region’s most numerous businesses.