OpenAI and Malta to Provide Free ChatGPT Plus to All Citizens
The artificial intelligence company OpenAI is providing free access to its premium AI service, ChatGPT Plus, to all citizens of Malta for a full year. Titled ‘AI for All’, this initiative marks the first national collaboration between OpenAI, the Maltese government, and the University of Malta.
In an official blog post, OpenAI stated that the initiative aims to help Maltese citizens understand and practically apply AI in their daily lives. ‘Like electricity, intelligence should be available to individuals, businesses, and institutions to use as much as they need, whenever and wherever,’ OpenAI wrote.
Malta is a small island nation in Southern Europe located in the central Mediterranean, with a population of approximately 568,847 according to Worldometer. Under the announced scheme, residents registered in Malta’s digital identity system must complete AI training before receiving free access to ChatGPT Plus.
Malta’s Minister for the Economy, Silvio Schembri, stated that the ‘AI for All’ programme was designed to ensure the Maltese people are not left behind in the global development of AI technology. He noted that the combination of AI education and free access to the world’s most advanced digital tools could assist students, workers, and families in utilising AI for everyday activities.
‘Through this AI course for all, we are ensuring that every citizen, regardless of their background, has the opportunity to build the confidence and skills needed to thrive in the digital world,’ said Schembri.
The ‘AI for All’ programme is set to launch in May 2026 and will be expanded gradually as more citizens complete the required courses. The programme also applies to Maltese citizens living abroad. Malta is the first country to partner with OpenAI to provide free ChatGPT Plus access on a national scale for its citizens.
‘Malta is the first country to launch a partnership of this magnitude because we refuse to let our citizens fall behind in the digital era,’ Schembri added. The government is said to play a crucial role in ensuring its people have both the access and the capability to maximise the use of AI. It is hoped that Malta’s approach will serve as a model for other nations in expanding AI usage across education, employment, and public services.
In addition to Malta, the United Arab Emirates is also reported to be establishing collaborations with OpenAI regarding national-level AI development.