- OpenAI offers all Maltese citizens free access to ChatGPT Plus for one year
- The move is part of its OpenAI for Countries initiative
- Citizens must complete a course developed by the University of Malta
OpenAI has unveiled a new government partnership which will see it give all residents of Malta free access to ChatGPT Plus for one year.
The roughly 575,000 citizens of the Mediterranean island nation will be able to access the AI tool in what OpenAI calls a “world’s first partnership.”
“At OpenAI, we make intelligence a global tool. We believe that intelligence, like electricity, 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 communities.”
Malta leads 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 technology responsibly.
Anyone wishing to gain access must complete a course developed by the University of Malta 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 program will launch in May 2026, with plans to scale further in the future, with the Malta Digital Innovation Authority managing the distribution to eligible participants.
“With this partnership, Malta is leading the way in Europe and the world in bringing artificial intelligence 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 ensuring their populations have both the access and 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 be left behind in the digital age,” Silvio Schembri, Malta’s Minister of Economy, Business and Strategic Projects, said in a statement. “We put our people at the 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 to evaluate and adopt AI platforms.
OpenAI has already started working with governments in Estonia and Greece, albeit only on national education systems, making their 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’s currently available for $20/£20 per month, along with separate plans for individuals and businesses.
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