Here are five important small business tech stories from this week and what they mean for your business. Did you miss them?

Small Business Tech News #1 – California passes a new AI safety law

Governor Gavin Newsom signed SB 53, the first law in the U.S. that regulates AI. It requires companies making advanced AI to share how they keep it safe, report possible risks, and inform the state about any AI-related cyberattacks. Workers who report problems will have protections. Senator Scott Wiener wrote the bill after an earlier version was vetoed last year. He said the law is about supporting AI innovation while keeping it safe.

Why it matters for your business:

It sounds good, but it’s unclear how state regulators will manage it. Will this law really protect businesses or people, or will it just add more paperwork and rules for AI companies?

Small Business Tech News #2 – ChatGPT now lets you shop directly

OpenAI added a new feature where you can buy products straight from ChatGPT using Instant Checkout. You can ask ChatGPT for product recommendations, like “best hiking boots under $150,” and it will suggest options. When you find something you like, you can click “Buy” to purchase it directly. This moves ChatGPT into online shopping and makes it a competitor to Google in product searches. It also shows OpenAI wants to make money beyond subscriptions and business tools.

Why this matters for your small business:

This is good news for e-commerce companies that want another way to promote and sell products besides Google. But it also means these businesses will need to learn how ChatGPT works if they want to be noticed by it, in addition to understanding Google.

Small Business Technology News #3 – Slack introduces an AI “teammate” for instant answers

Slack has released Channel Expert, an AI assistant that helps teams communicate and work faster—especially useful for small businesses. It can answer common questions, show relevant information, and pass harder questions to a human. Channel Expert gets information from chats, PDFs, and connected apps. Salesforce teams using it report fewer delays and fewer support tickets.

Why this matters for your small business:

Channel Expert saves time by answering repetitive questions and gives accurate info using the context of your data. Sales teams can quickly find things like pricing and product details, which helps them respond faster. For small teams, it’s a powerful way to work smarter without needing expensive tech.

Small Business Technology News #4 – Google launches a new resource hub for small businesses

Google now has a central hub that makes it easier for small businesses to use its tools for setup, advertising, analytics, and support. It includes links to Business Profile, Merchant Center, Google Ads, YouTube Ads, Google Analytics, AI tools in Workspace, and beginner guides. Agencies can onboard clients faster using one link. Its usefulness depends on Google keeping it updated, but it could become a key resource for small teams and marketers.

Why this matters for your small business:

Even small businesses can get noticed on Google if they focus on local marketing. Tools like Business Profile, YouTube, and local Ads are especially important. Learning these tools isn’t hard, but it takes time. Hiring someone in-house to manage them often works better than relying on a marketing agency.

Small Business Technology News #5 – Squarespace adds new AI tools for SEO and design

Squarespace has launched AI features to help users improve their websites and get more visibility online. Key tools include:

  • Beacon AI: Create product listings, set up marketing, and get business improvement suggestions.

  • SEO Scanner: Automatically creates keyword-rich titles and descriptions to boost search rankings.

  • AI Site Scanner: Finds broken links and gives suggestions to improve site performance and user experience.

  • Finish Layer: Design-focused tools to add advanced features to your website.

Why this matters for your small business:

Squarespace is a strong website builder that small business owners can use even without much experience. It’s in a competitive market, and some think it could be cheaper. But the clients I know who use it all say it’s excellent and worth checking out.

Every week, I share five small business tech news stories and explain why they matter for your business. If you have interesting stories, please share them on my X account: @genemarks

Published: 6th October 2025

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