Small Business Technology Roundup: Free Tools For Google Docs, ChatGPT Surpasses 1 Million Customers, AI Replacing Workers Next Year – Forbes

Weekly Technology Developments and Their Impact on Sustainable Development Goals

1. Enhancement of Digital Productivity Tools

A report highlighted over 15 free add-ons for Google Docs designed to improve productivity and workflow efficiency. These tools offer advanced capabilities for users.

• Writing and Editing: Includes voice typing, a personalized dictionary, a citation manager for academic formatting, and tools to convert PDFs into editable documents.
• Collaboration: Features allow for direct emailing from documents, comprehensive version history for retrieving previous drafts, and a document comparison tool to identify differences.

Alignment with Sustainable Development Goals

1. SDG 4 (Quality Education): The availability of free, advanced tools like citation managers and research aids supports inclusive and equitable quality education by providing essential resources for students and researchers.
2. SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth): By supercharging workflows and increasing efficiency, these tools contribute to higher levels of economic productivity, a key target of SDG 8.
3. SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure): This development promotes the adoption of modern, sustainable digital infrastructure and enhances technological capabilities across all sectors.

2. Rapid Corporate Adoption of Artificial Intelligence Platforms

OpenAI reported that over one million businesses are now utilizing its products, including ChatGPT for Work. This rapid adoption signifies a major shift in business operations towards AI integration.

• Growth Metrics: The platform has seen a 40% increase in work seats in two months and a 9x year-over-year growth in enterprise seats.
• Enterprise Capabilities: New tools such as Company Knowledge, Agent Kit, and Codex are being deployed to integrate AI with internal data sources like SharePoint and GitHub, enabling customized and automated business solutions.
• Economic Impact: A Wharton study indicated that 75% of enterprises report a positive Return on Investment (ROI) from AI implementation.

Alignment with Sustainable Development Goals

1. SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure): The widespread adoption of AI represents a significant upgrade to industrial and business infrastructure, fostering innovation and enhancing technological capabilities.
2. SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth): The integration of AI is driving productivity and creating new avenues for economic growth. However, it also necessitates a focus on reskilling the workforce to adapt to new technologies.

3. Projected Impact of AI on the Workforce

A survey conducted by AI Resume Builder indicates that three in ten U.S. companies plan to replace workers with AI in 2026. This projection raises significant questions about the future of work.

• Survey Findings: 59% of leaders anticipating layoffs expect AI to replace at least 10% of their workforce. Industries identified as most at risk include IT, finance, manufacturing, and retail.
• Job Displacement Data: In October 2025, AI was cited as the second leading cause for 48,414 job cuts in the private sector, following cost-cutting measures.

Alignment with Sustainable Development Goals

1. SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth): This trend directly challenges the goal of achieving full, productive, and decent work for all. It underscores the urgent need for policies that manage the transition, support displaced workers, and promote job creation in new sectors.
2. SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities): The potential for AI-driven job displacement could exacerbate income inequality if not addressed through inclusive policies, social safety nets, and accessible retraining programs.

4. Analysis of AI Integration in Business Operations

McKinsey’s “State of AI 2025” report provides a comprehensive analysis of AI adoption, revealing that while usage is widespread, deep integration remains limited.

• Adoption vs. Scaling: 88% of organizations report using AI in at least one function, but most remain in pilot phases rather than achieving enterprise-wide scaling.
• Financial Impact: While 39% of respondents link AI to EBIT, most attribute less than 5% of their company’s EBIT to AI usage. Only 6% of organizations are considered “high performers” successfully transforming their business with AI.
• Emerging Trends: 62% of companies are experimenting with agentic AI, particularly in IT and knowledge management.

Alignment with Sustainable Development Goals

1. SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure): The report offers a realistic assessment of the current state of technological adoption, highlighting the gap between initial innovation and full-scale industrial integration. It points to the need for strategies that help businesses scale proven technologies.
2. SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth): The data suggests that the productivity gains from AI are not yet universally realized, providing a more nuanced view of its immediate impact on economic growth and employment compared to speculative forecasts.

5. Advancements in Digital Platforms for Professional Engagement

LinkedIn has launched new integrations with event management platforms ON24 and Cvent to enhance the effectiveness of professional events hosted on its platform.

• Platform Integration: The tools allow users to manage webinars and sync event data directly between LinkedIn and third-party platforms.
• Enhanced Marketing: The integrations enable retargeting of high-intent audiences and personalized messaging, with LinkedIn reporting that event ads can increase viewership by an average of 31%.

Alignment with Sustainable Development Goals

1. SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals): By improving tools for professional networking and event management, this development strengthens the platforms that facilitate public-private and civil society partnerships, which are crucial for achieving the SDGs.
2. SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth): These tools support businesses in their growth and development efforts by providing more effective means for lead generation, engagement, and collaboration, thereby contributing to economic dynamism.

Analysis of Sustainable Development Goals in the Article

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

1. SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth

   • The article extensively discusses technologies like Google Docs add-ons and ChatGPT that aim to “supercharge your workflow” and “significantly increase your employees’ (and your company’s) productivity.” This directly relates to improving economic productivity, a core component of SDG 8.
   • Furthermore, the article addresses the potential negative impact on employment, citing a survey that “3 in 10 U.S. companies plan to replace workers with AI in 2026.” This highlights the challenges to achieving full and productive employment, which is a central theme of SDG 8.

2. SDG 9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure

   • The entire article is centered on technological innovation and its adoption by businesses. It covers advancements in AI (ChatGPT), productivity software (Google Docs), and digital marketing platforms (LinkedIn).
   • The McKinsey report mentioned in the article, which states that “88 percent of organizations reporting the use of the technology in at least one business function,” underscores the widespread adoption of new technologies by industry, aligning with the goal of upgrading industrial technological capabilities.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

1. Target 8.2: Achieve higher levels of economic productivity through diversification, technological upgrading and innovation.

   • The article’s first two sections on Google Docs tools and ChatGPT’s business adoption directly support this target. They describe how businesses can leverage these technological innovations to “supercharge” workflows and achieve a “positive ROI,” which are proxies for increased economic productivity. The advice to hire consultants to leverage these tools further emphasizes the focus on technological upgrading.

2. Target 8.5: By 2030, achieve full and productive employment and decent work for all.

   • The third news item, “3 in 10 firms plan to replace workers with AI next year,” directly engages with the challenges to this target. It discusses the threat of technological advancement to employment, citing AI as the “second leading cause” for job cuts in the private sector. This highlights the tension between innovation and maintaining full employment.

3. Target 9.5: Enhance scientific research, upgrade the technological capabilities of industrial sectors in all countries… and encourage innovation.

   • The article provides concrete examples of this target in action. The rapid growth of OpenAI, with “1 million businesses worldwide” using its products and “Enterprise seats grew 9x year-over-year,” demonstrates the scaling of innovative technologies. The McKinsey report’s finding that “88 percent of organizations” use AI shows the broad upgrading of technological capabilities across industries.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

1. Indicators for Target 8.2 (Economic Productivity)

   • Percentage of enterprises reporting positive ROI from AI: The article mentions a Wharton study that found “75 percent of enterprises report positive ROI” from AI. This can be used as an indicator of productivity gains from technological innovation.
   • Percentage of a company’s EBIT attributed to AI usage: The McKinsey report notes that “most respondents say that less than 5 percent of their company’s EBIT is a result of AI usage,” providing a direct financial metric to measure the economic impact of technology.

2. Indicators for Target 8.5 (Employment)

   • Number of job cuts attributed to AI: The article provides a specific figure: “AI was the second-most cited factor in the private sector, triggering 48,414 job cuts.” This is a direct indicator of technology’s impact on employment.
   • Proportion of companies planning to replace workers with AI: The survey result that “3 in 10 U.S. companies plan to replace workers with AI in 2026” serves as a forward-looking indicator of potential job displacement.

3. Indicators for Target 9.5 (Innovation and Technology Adoption)

   • Proportion of businesses using a specific technology: The article states that “88 percent of organizations reporting the use of [AI] technology in at least one business function.” This is a clear indicator of technology adoption.
   • Growth rate of technology adoption: The article notes that ChatGPT for Work seats are “up 40 percent in just two months” and “Enterprise seats grew 9x year-over-year,” which are strong indicators of the rate of technological diffusion.

4. Summary Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: forbes.com