OpenAI has signed a first-of-its-kind agreement with the government of Malta to provide all Maltese residents with free access to ChatGPT Plus for one year after they complete an AI literacy course, according to a Reuters report.
The initiative, branded “AI for All,” will begin in May and is designed to improve AI literacy and responsible use of generative AI tools among citizens. The training course will be developed in partnership with the University of Malta and will be free to participants. Once completed, users will receive complimentary access to ChatGPT Plus.
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The offer will also extend to Maltese citizens living abroad, making the program broader than a domestic-only rollout. Maltese Economy Minister Silvio Schembri said the partnership aims to turn AI from “an unfamiliar concept into practical assistance” for families, workers, and students.
OpenAI described the agreement as the first national-scale partnership under its “OpenAI for Countries” initiative, which focuses on helping governments integrate AI tools into public life and workforce development.
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The announcement comes as OpenAI expands its global government and enterprise partnerships amid intense competition in the AI sector. The company has recently pursued agreements tied to public services, enterprise AI adoption, and infrastructure expansion.
Online reactions to the Malta deal were mixed. On Hacker News and Reddit, some users praised the focus on AI literacy, while others questioned the privacy implications, taxpayer costs, and whether the initiative primarily serves OpenAI’s user growth ambitions.