OpenAI gives every Malta resident free ChatGPT Plus for a year in first-of-its-kind deal

OpenAI is offering ChatGPT Plus to citizens of Malta for a year - Engadget

OpenAI has signed deals with fintech startups, tech giants and even Disney, but it's breaking new ground by announcing a "world's first partnership" with the country of Malta. In a post on its website, OpenAI said that it would provide ChatGPT Plus for one year to every Maltese resident or citizen. "Malta is the first country to launch a partnership of this scale because we refuse to let our citizens stay behind in the digital age," Silvio Schembri, Malta's minister for Economy, Enterprise and Strategic Projects, said in a statement. "We are putting our people at the very forefront of global change." For the approximately 574,250 residents living in Malta, they'll have to complete a course developed by the University of Malta before launching the ChatGPT Plus subscription, which costs $20 a month in the US. The course teaches the basics of AI, but also how to use the technology responsibly, whether it's at home or at work. Any interested Maltese residents will also need to have an active eID account from the European Union to claim the subscription. According to OpenAI, the first phase of the program will launch this month, with the Malta Digital Innovation Authority managing the distribution to eligible participants. OpenAI added that the program will scale up once more Maltese residents or its citizens abroad complete the course. While OpenAI kicks off a new program in Malta, it's putting a pause to its Stargate data center plans in the UK. The project was designed to assist the UK with building out AI infrastructure, but attributed high energy costs and regulatory issues with the latest stoppage.

OpenAI is giving everyone in this country free access to ChatGPT Plus for a year

* OpenAI is offering every Maltese citizen free access to ChatGPT Plus for a year * The move is part of its OpenAI for Countries initiative * Citizens will need to complete a course developed by the University of Malta OpenAI has revealed a new government partnership which will see it provide every resident in Malta with free access to ChatGPT Plus for a year. The approximate 575,000 citizens of the Mediterranean island nation will be able to get access to the AI tool in what OpenAI calls a "world's first partnership". "At OpenAI, we're turning intelligence into a global utility. We believe that, like electricity, intelligence should be available for people, businesses, and institutions to use as much as they need, where and when they need it," the company wrote in a blog post announcing the plans, "that vision only matters if people can actually use these tools in ways that improve their own lives and communities." Malta leading the way The idea is part of Malta's AI for All initiative, which looks to provide more guidance on how its citizens can use the technology responsibly. Anyone looking to gain access will need to complete a course developed by the University of Malta, in order "to help people understand what AI is, what it can and can't do, and how to use it responsibly at home and work". The first phase of the program will launch in May 2026, with plans to scale further in the future, with the Malta Digital Innovation Authority managing distribution to eligible participants. "With this partnership, Malta is leading Europe and the world in bringing AI to all its citizens" said George Osborne, Head of OpenAI for Countries. "Intelligence is becoming a national utility and all governments have an important role to play in making sure their populations have both the access and the skills to make the most of AI." "Malta is the first country to launch a partnership of this scale because we refuse to let our citizens stay behind in the digital age," Silvio Schembri, Malta's minister for Economy, Enterprise and Strategic Projects, said in a statement. "We are putting our people at the very forefront of global change." The partnership is part of the company's OpenAI for Countries plan, which looks to work with governments and other institutions in evaluating and adopting AI platforms. OpenAI has already started work with governments in Estonia and Greece, although only on national education systems, making its Malta partnership the largest and most developed to date. Promising "More access to advanced intelligence", ChatGPT Plus is the first paid tier of the company's AI platform, offering more advanced models and tools including GPT-5, greater capacity, and faster image creation. It is currently available for $20/£20 a month, alongside separate plans for individuals and businesses. Follow TechRadar on Google News and add us as a preferred source to get our expert news, reviews, and opinion in your feeds.

OpenAI is giving ChatGPT Plus subcription to a whole country

Malta's partnership could push governments toward treating AI access like public infrastructure. ChatGPT Plus used to feel like one of those optional internet subscriptions people quietly justified to themselves every month. Now, OpenAI is partnering with governments to roll it out at a national level, which honestly feels like a very different conversation altogether. OpenAI has officially announced a partnership with Malta that will provide ChatGPT Plus access to all Maltese citizens and residents for one year after they complete a free AI literacy course. The initiative, called "AI for All," is being developed alongside the University of Malta and is being described as the company's first nationwide partnership of this kind. OpenAI wants Malta to become a nationwide AI adoption experiment Under the program, residents registered with Malta's digital identity system will gain access to ChatGPT Plus after completing a government-backed AI training course focused on practical and responsible AI usage. The rollout begins this month and also includes Maltese citizens living abroad. On paper, the idea sounds fairly reasonable. Governments everywhere are trying to figure out how AI literacy will affect education, jobs, administration, and digital infrastructure over the next decade. OpenAI clearly wants to position itself at the center of that transition before competitors fully catch up. Recommended Videos Interestingly, Malta is not the only country moving in this direction. The UAE has also been working closely with OpenAI through its massive Stargate UAE infrastructure partnership, with multiple reports suggesting nationwide ChatGPT access is being explored there as well, although details around free ChatGPT Plus subscriptions remain somewhat unclear. This is starting to feel less like software and more like digital infrastructure What makes this deal interesting is how quickly AI tools are evolving from consumer products into something governments increasingly view as public infrastructure. Just a couple of years ago, ChatGPT was mostly a productivity tool for students, coders, and office workers. Now, entire countries are discussing nationwide AI access programs. And honestly, that shift should probably make people pause a little. Once governments start integrating specific AI platforms into education, workplaces, and public services, these tools stop being optional conveniences and start becoming deeply embedded digital dependencies. For OpenAI, this is brilliant positioning, but if entire countries eventually begin relying on one company's AI ecosystem, this stops being about chatbots and starts looking a lot more like infrastructure control.

Malta gives citizens a paid version of ChatGPT Plus for free

Citizens and residents registered with Malta's online identity system can apply to get access to ChatGPT Plus after completing a free online course. OpenAI has signed its first partnership with a national government bringing the paid version of ChatGPT for free to residents of Malta. OpenAI and the Government of Malta on Saturday announced a deal that will give every citizen free access to the artificial intelligence (AI) chatbot for one year through a government-led AI literacy programme. Citizens and residents registered with Malta's online identity system can apply after completing a free online course called AI for All, developed by the University of Malta. According to the Malta Digital Innovation Authority, the course is designed to help people understand what AI is, what it can and cannot do, and how to use it responsibly at home and at work. The first phase of the programme will launch in May, according to the announcement. The Malta Digital Innovation Authority will manage access to the free subscriptions, and it said the programme will grow as more people complete the course. "By pairing this education with free access to the most advanced digital tools available today, we are turning an unfamiliar concept into practical assistance for our families, students, and workers," said Silvio Schembri, the country's minister for economy, enterprise and strategic projects, in an announcement. The partnership is the first of its kind, according to the announcement. "Malta is leading the way by showing how countries can empower their citizens to benefit from the transformative potential of AI," said George Osborne, head of OpenAI for Countries, an initiative by OpenAI "built around local priorities". The partnership is part of a growing trend among governments to find practical ways to help people build confidence using AI and apply it to everyday tasks. Last year, Anthropic announced a project that gives all teachers in Iceland access to Claude, its AI assistant, to help with lesson planning, classroom materials and administrative tasks. In September 2025, OpenAI announced a partnership with the Greek government to bring its technology to secondary schools and start-ups across the country. Meanwhile, in February 2025, the UK government signed a memorandum of understanding with Anthropic to improve how people access and interact with government information and services online.

OpenAI offers free ChatGPT Plus to all Malta residents

OpenAI is offering ChatGPT Plus to every resident and citizen of Malta for one year, marking a unique partnership with the country. The initiative is designed to ensure that Malta's approximately 574,250 residents do not fall behind in the digital age, according to Silvio Schembri, Malta's minister for Economy, Enterprise and Strategic Projects. "Malta is the first country to launch a partnership of this scale because we refuse to let our citizens stay behind in the digital age," Schembri said. He emphasized that the program aims to place Maltese citizens at the forefront of global technological change. To access the ChatGPT Plus subscription, residents must complete a course developed by the University of Malta. The course focuses on the fundamentals of artificial intelligence and emphasizes the responsible use of AI in everyday life. An active European Union eID account is also required to claim the subscription. The program's first phase is set to launch this month, with the Malta Digital Innovation Authority responsible for managing subscription distribution to eligible participants. OpenAI indicated that the initiative will expand as more Maltese residents, including those living abroad, complete the course requirements. Concurrently, OpenAI has decided to pause its Stargate data center plans in the UK. The company cited high energy costs and regulatory challenges as the reasons for this decision, which was intended to assist the UK in developing its AI infrastructure.

OpenAI and Malta Partner to Give All Citizens Free ChatGPT Plus Access

In a world-first deal, OpenAI and Malta will give all citizens free ChatGPT Plus for a year after they complete a government-backed AI literacy course. OpenAI and the Maltese government have announced a world-first partnership to roll out ChatGPT Plus to all Maltese citizens, marking the first time a government has struck such a deal with the AI company. Under the programme, citizens who complete a government-backed AI literacy course will receive free access to ChatGPT Plus for one year, OpenAI announced on Saturday. The course, developed by the University of Malta, covers what AI is, what it can and cannot do and how to use it responsibly at home and in the workplace. "Malta is the first country to launch a partnership of this scale because we refuse to let our citizens stay behind in the digital age," Maltese minister for economy, enterprise and strategic projects Silvio Schembri said, adding that the goal is to turn AI "from an unfamiliar concept into practical assistance for our families, students, and workers." The Malta Digital Innovation Authority will manage distribution to eligible participants when the first phase launches this month, with the programme set to expand as more residents and citizens abroad complete the course. Related: Robinhood Invests $75M in OpenAI to Provide Equity Tokens for Users The deal is the latest under OpenAI's broader OpenAI for Countries initiative, through which the company works with governments to move from early AI interest to national-level adoption. Unlike a standardised model, the programme is tailored to each country's priorities, including areas like education, workforce training and public services. Last year, OpenAI partnered with Estonia's government to provide all secondary school students and teachers with access to ChatGPT Edu, a customized version of ChatGPT built for education systems. The firm has also launched "OpenAI for Greece" in partnership with the Greek government. As Cointelegraph reported, OpenAI has also struck a deal with the US Department of Defense to deploy its AI models on classified military networks.

OpenAI seals deal in Malta to give all Maltese access to ChatGPT Plus - The Economic Times

Malta is set to become the first nation to provide all its residents with a year of ChatGPT Plus access. This initiative follows the completion of a free course on artificial intelligence usage. The program begins in May and will expand as more citizens finish the training. Maltese citizens living overseas can also participate.US artificial intelligence company OpenAI said on Saturday it had signed a deal with the government of Malta to give all residents access ⁠to ⁠its ChatGPT Plus service for one year after they follow a course on how to use AI. The programme will start in May and ⁠is expected to scale up as more Maltese residents complete ⁠the course, which will be free. It will also be open to Maltese citizens living abroad. "We are turning an unfamiliar concept into practical assistance for our families, students, and workers," Maltese Economy Minister Silvio Schembri was quoted as ⁠saying in an OpenAI statement. Malta is the first country to launch such a programme. The company did not disclose the financial details of the deal.

OpenAI seals deal in Malta to give all Maltese access to ChatGPT Plus

May 16 (Reuters) - U.S. artificial intelligence company OpenAI said on Saturday it had signed a deal with the government of Malta to give all residents access to its ChatGPT Plus service for one year after they follow a course on how to use AI. o The programme will start in May and is expected to scale up as more Maltese residents complete the course, which will be free. o It will also be open to Maltese citizens living abroad. o "We are turning an unfamiliar concept into practical assistance for our families, students, and workers," Maltese Economy Minister Silvio Schembri was quoted as saying in an OpenAI statement. o Malta is the first country to launch such a programme. o The company did not disclose the financial details of the deal. (Reporting by Inti Landauro, Editing by Rosalba O'Brien)