Malta offers all its citizens free access to ChatGPT Plus for one year

The adoption of artificial intelligence is progressing rapidly in several countries, especially in education and public services. In this context, Malta takes a new step with an unprecedented agreement signed with OpenAI. The government aims to facilitate access to digital tools by offering ChatGPT Plus free of charge for one year to citizens who will undergo training dedicated to artificial intelligence.

ChatGPT at the heart of an unprecedented partnership with Malta

OpenAI and the Maltese government have formalized an agreement described as a world first. As part of this cooperation, citizens who complete an introduction to artificial intelligence will receive free access to ChatGPT Plus for twelve months.

The program is based on a course developed by the University of Malta. This training explains how artificial intelligence works, its limitations, and its uses in personal and professional life. It also covers best practices for using ChatGPT responsibly.

According to the Maltese authorities, this initiative aims to make digital tools more accessible to the entire population. Silvio Schembri, Maltese minister for the economy, enterprise, and strategic projects, stated that the country wants to prevent its citizens from being left behind in the face of digital transformations.

This month, we will start the first phase of the project. The Maltese Digital Innovation Authority will oversee the distribution of access to eligible participants. Subsequently, the scheme is expected to gradually extend to residents and citizens living abroad who have completed the training related to ChatGPT.

OpenAI multiplies partnerships with governments

This partnership is part of the “OpenAI for countries” initiative, a program designed to support governments in the large-scale adoption of artificial intelligence. OpenAI tailors each project to local needs, especially in education, professional training, and public services.

In this strategy, ChatGPT occupies a central position. The company seeks to integrate its tools into various national systems through public collaborations. This approach allows states to test new uses of artificial intelligence while training their citizens.

OpenAI has already developed similar partnerships with other countries. Last year, the company collaborated with the Estonian government to offer ChatGPT Edu to secondary school students and teachers. This customized version of ChatGPT was designed for educational environments.

Moreover, OpenAI also launched an initiative in Greece with local authorities. The company also continues its collaborations in strategic sectors related to artificial intelligence, including specialized networks in the United States.

Governments accelerate the integration of artificial intelligence into daily life

This dynamic reflects a broader trend among several governments, which seek concrete ways to help the population gain confidence in using artificial intelligence and to apply it in everyday tasks. With the rapid rise of digital assistants, these tools are taking an increasing role in education, work, and public services.

Last year, Anthropic announced a project allowing teachers in Iceland to access Claude, its AI assistant, to help them prepare classes and administrative tasks.

Meanwhile, the British government signed a memorandum of understanding with Anthropic in February 2025 to improve citizens’ access to information and public services online. In this context, the initiative launched in Malta illustrates the rise of collaborations between states and companies specialized in artificial intelligence.

Through this partnership with OpenAI, Malta seeks to facilitate access to ChatGPT while supporting its citizens in learning new digital practices. This strategy could inspire other countries wishing to further integrate AI into daily life.