Business Network International CEO Mary Kennedy Thompson says AI could let solo operators take on more business tasks, while she sees referrals as a way to establish credibility.
In an interview with The Straits Times, Thompson said AI tools could take on accounting, finance, marketing and administrative work that once called for a larger organization. Thompson also said the first billionaire to run a business alone could emerge within five years; The Straits Times reported growing interest in BNI from AI businesses.
Thompson argued that as operators use AI to handle more work, customers will still seek evidence of a business’s ability to deliver. “People are going to want proof points,” she said, according to The Straits Times.
BNI says it has more than 11,800 chapters in 78 countries. Its founder page reports 17.8 million referrals linked to more than US$26.9 billion in member business “last year,” without defining the period.
A BNI data certificate dated March 2025 recorded 16.8 million referrals and US$25.3 billion in closed business for the 12 months ending Jan. 3, 2025. The certificate says those figures draw on historical member reports and warns that reporting or analysis errors are possible.
BNI Singapore’s website lists 49 chapters and 1,923 members as of 2026. Thompson put membership above 2,000 in the interview, The Straits Times reported. The Singapore page also lists 85,023 referrals over 12 months and more than S$154.81 million in closed business, without specifying the period for the latter figure.
BNI says its chapters meet weekly. A one-year payment page for BNI Singapore lists a total of $1,739.64, including 9% GST, and says additional chapter or training fees may apply; the page does not identify the currency. The network offers members a referral system alongside recurring meeting and payment commitments.
