When you’re running a business solo, keeping up with the pace of AI innovation can feel like a full-time job. Yet the past two weeks have delivered updates that directly impact the way small businesses work. New models are lowering costs, chat assistants are turning into app platforms, and everyday business software is getting smarter. This article highlights the most useful releases from the end of September through mid-October 2025 and shows you how to put them to work right away.
AI News You Need to Know
Anthropic Launches Claude Haiku 4.5
On 15 October 2025, Anthropic introduced Claude Haiku 4.5, a compact language model designed to deliver near-frontier performance at a fraction of the cost. According to Anthropic’s announcement, Haiku 4.5 matches the coding performance of their earlier Sonnet 4 model while operating more than twice as fast. It even outperforms the larger Sonnet 4 on certain computer-use tasks, making it ideal for chat assistants and real-time applications. Pricing is aggressively low: developers pay just $1 per million input tokens and $5 per million output tokens, and VentureBeat reports that free Claude.ai users can try Haiku 4.5 at no cost.
Why this matters: Small businesses often shy away from advanced models due to cost and latency. Haiku 4.5 removes those hurdles, offering enterprise-level coding and reasoning on a solopreneur budget. If you’re using AI to generate marketing copy, power a chatbot, or assist with programming, you’ll see faster responses and lower bills.
ChatGPT Becomes an App Platform
OpenAI’s announcement on 6 October 2025 turns ChatGPT into a hub for third-party apps. Users can call services like Canva, Booking.com, Coursera, Figma, Expedia, Spotify, and Zillow directly inside a chat. These apps respond to natural language, surface interactive interfaces, and adapt to user context. More than 800 million ChatGPT users can access the apps on Free, Go, Plus, and Pro plans (outside the EEA, Switzerland, and the U.K.). Developers can build their own apps through a new SDK and reach a massive audience.
For solopreneurs, this means fewer browser tabs and more streamlined workflows. You’ll be able to design graphics, book travel, or browse real-estate listings within the same conversation—no switching contexts or juggling logins.
Google Debuts Gemini Enterprise and New Agents
Google’s October update introduces Gemini Enterprise, a platform that bundles Google’s generative models with first- and third-party AI agents. A no-code workbench lets users orchestrate agents and automate workflows without programming. The platform integrates with data from Google Workspace, Microsoft 365, Salesforce, and other sources, and includes built-in governance and access controls. Pricing starts at $30 per seat per month for Standard and Plus plans, with a Business plan at $21 per seat including a 30-day trial.
Supporting tools include:
- AI Agent Finder to discover vetted agents by industry and use case
- Data-science agent to automate data wrangling and model development
- Workspace enhancements to convert presentations into AI-generated videos and translate speech in Meet with natural tone
- Google Skills portal with over 3,000 free AI courses
While Gemini Enterprise targets larger companies, its per-seat pricing and free tools make it approachable for micro-businesses. The no-code workbench can automate repetitive tasks like data entry and reporting, and the data-science agent provides analysis without hiring a data scientist.
ADP Adds Smart Features to Its Payroll Platform
RUN Powered by ADP, a payroll service used by over 900,000 small businesses, added several features on 16 October 2025. The update integrates Clover POS systems with payroll to streamline wage calculations and eliminate manual data transfers. A custom onboarding module lets owners assign tasks and track completion for new hires. The platform now includes an AI document-extraction tool that imports data from uploaded forms such as tax notices. For owners managing multiple ventures, RUN now supports multi-company management, allowing you to search and administer employees across businesses.
These updates save solopreneurs time and reduce errors. Automatic document extraction cuts data entry, while POS integration ensures payroll reflects actual sales. If you hire seasonal staff or contractors, the onboarding tasks keep everyone compliant without additional software.
Tools You Can Use Right Now
Try Claude Haiku 4.5 Without Paying
Register for a free Claude.ai account to access Haiku 4.5. Once logged in, choose the Haiku 4.5 model for your chats. Use it to brainstorm product descriptions, draft emails, or generate code snippets. If you need to embed the model into your own app, the API cost of $1/$5 per million tokens makes it one of the most affordable high-performance models on the market.
Reduce Admin Friction With ChatGPT Apps
To use the new apps, sign in to ChatGPT (Free, Go, Plus, or Pro plans outside the EEA). Invoke an app by name—for example: “Canva: design a social-media post about our new product” or “Booking.com: find a hotel in Austin from Nov 2-4 under $250.” ChatGPT surfaces the app’s interface and guides you through the next steps. You’ll connect your account the first time; after that, you can interact with apps using plain language and interactive elements.
Create Videos From Slides With Google Vids
If you have a Google Workspace account, look for the new “Vids” option in Google Slides. Upload your slide deck, choose a template, and let the AI generate a script and voice-over. Review and adjust the narration as needed, then export the finished video. It’s perfect for turning webinars, product demos, or investor pitches into shareable videos without hiring a videographer.
Simplify Payroll With ADP’s New Features
Existing RUN users can link their Clover POS within settings to sync sales and payroll data. When onboarding employees, use the custom task feature to assign forms and deadlines. Upload documents like tax notices to the AI extraction tool and let the system populate the necessary fields. For owners managing more than one business, enable multi-company management to search across employee records from one dashboard.
Use Google Skills to Learn AI Basics
Take advantage of Google’s free Skills platform to learn AI fundamentals. Browse thousands of courses covering data analysis, generative models, and no-code automation. Even dedicating one hour per week helps you understand how tools like Gemini or Haiku work and how to evaluate vendors.
What It Means for Your Business
Across these announcements, a clear pattern emerges: AI is becoming more accessible and integrated. Anthropic’s Haiku 4.5 offers near-frontier intelligence at an unprecedented price. OpenAI’s app platform collapses multiple services into one chat interface, letting you design, book, research, and purchase without switching tabs. Google’s Gemini ecosystem shows that agent orchestration and no-code automation are moving from enterprise wish lists to small-business reality. Meanwhile, ADP demonstrates that even traditional back-office functions like payroll can benefit from AI-powered automation.
For solopreneurs, these updates translate into concrete advantages: lower model costs free up budget for experimentation, embedded apps reduce mental overhead, no-code tools enable automation without technical expertise, and smarter payroll features keep your business compliant and organized.
Actionable Takeaways
- Test Haiku 4.5 this week: Sign up for Claude.ai, compare response times and quality against your current AI tools, and decide whether the cost savings justify switching.
- Use one ChatGPT app: Try Canva or Booking.com to experience in-chat apps and identify where they can save time.
- Repurpose content: Use Google Vids to convert an old presentation into a short marketing video and share it on social media.
- Automate a payroll task: If you use RUN, enable the AI document-extraction tool and upload your next tax notice; otherwise, explore the free trial to see if it fits your needs.
- Invest in learning: Pick a free course on Google Skills related to AI for small businesses and complete it within the next two weeks.
Final Thoughts
AI isn’t a futuristic luxury anymore—it’s a practical toolset that helps solo and micro-businesses compete with larger companies. October 2025’s headlines showcase cheaper models, conversational apps, powerful no-code automation, and smarter payroll systems. Start small, experiment with the free and affordable options, and build your confidence. Over time, these tools will let you focus on what really matters: serving your customers and growing your business.
Have you tried any of these tools yet? Share your experiences in the comments, and visit SoloAITool.com regularly for more tips and guides.
