Oracle and OpenAI offer small businesses $12,000 in yearly cloud credits

Oracle and OpenAI say they will offer small businesses a free-to-start AI package that includes $12,000 a year in Oracle cloud credits. Cloud credits are prepaid funds you spend on Oracle's online computing services instead of paying cash. The companies announced the package on October 27, 2026, at Oracle AI World in Las Vegas.

What is in the bundle

The offer is called the Oracle AI SMB Bundle. It is meant to help small businesses build products, run daily operations and add new abilities. Based on the announcement, it includes ChatGPT Business, NetSuite and automation tools, along with the yearly credits. The idea is that a small company would not have to piece together separate software for each job.

The wider partnership

The bundle sits inside a larger deal that brings OpenAI's ChatGPT, Codex and other AI models into Oracle's business software, databases and cloud. Three of the new products stand out:

• Oracle AI Workspace lets staff ask ChatGPT for business information or approved tasks, such as pulling financial data from NetSuite.
• Oracle AI Security Mesh is a managed service that uses OpenAI models to find and help fix security weaknesses.
• Oracle App Composer lets employees describe an app in plain words and use Codex to help build it.

Oracle says companies will keep control over what the AI is allowed to do, including approvals and permissions. Security testing happens only where a business authorizes it.

What is not known yet

Oracle calls the bundle free-to-start, and terms, conditions and restrictions apply. The announcement does not spell out who qualifies. It also does not say whether every included service is covered by the credits. No launch dates or detailed prices were given for the individual products. Oracle also warns that product features, timing and pricing may change.

What to do

Owners who are interested should ask Oracle a few direct questions before signing up:

• Who is eligible for the bundle?
• Which services do the $12,000 in credits cover, and which cost extra?
• What are the usage limits, and what happens when the credits run out?
• Which of our workflows can the AI reach, and who approves its actions?

Businesses should also think about staff training and who will maintain any apps they build with App Composer.