OpenAI gives Malta ChatGPT Plus

OpenAI said on May 16 it had signed an agreement with the government of Malta to offer a year of ChatGPT Plus to eligible citizens and residents who complete a free national AI literacy course. The programme starts in May and is being run through Malta’s public digital infrastructure rather than as a limited corporate trial. Malta’s government said the course is open to citizens and residents in Malta and Gozo aged 14 and over, and Reuters reported the offer will also be open to Maltese citizens living abroad. OpenAI did not disclose financial terms of the deal. ### Who exactly can get the free ChatGPT Plus access? Malta’s government said the programme is aimed at citizens and residents in possession of an eID account, the country’s digital identity login used for public services. The Malta Digital Innovation Authority’s programme page says registration and course access run through a newly developed online platform accessible via eID. (openai.com) Reuters reported on May 16 that the arrangement covers all residents and will also be open to Maltese citizens living abroad. OpenAI’s own announcement described the rollout as available to Maltese citizens, while Malta’s government press release framed the broader literacy programme as accessible to citizens and residents in Malta and Gozo aged 14 and over. (mdia.gov.mt) ### What do people have to do before they get the subscription? The Maltese government said participants must complete an approximately two-hour online course called “AI for Everyone” before receiving a free one-year subscription to either ChatGPT Plus or Microsoft 365 Personal Copilot. The course was developed by the Malta Digital Innovation Authority in partnership with the University of Malta and is offered online at no cost. (money.usnews.com) MDIA said the programme requires completion of three core modules covering AI fundamentals, everyday use and learning. The site says participants can then choose additional modules for areas including professional use, entrepreneurship, job seeking, accessibility and education. ### What is Malta actually rolling out? OpenAI said the first phase launches in May, with the Malta Digital Innovation Authority managing distribution to eligible participants. (gov.mt) The company said the programme will scale as more residents and citizens abroad complete the course. The MDIA programme page describes the offer as a free subscription to a “designated AI platform” after successful completion of the three fundamental modules. (mdia.gov.mt) Malta’s government identified the tools in its launch statement as ChatGPT Plus and Microsoft 365 Personal Copilot. ### How valuable is the offer in cash terms? OpenAI’s help center says ChatGPT Plus is priced at $20 a month. (openai.com) Over 12 months, that implies a retail value of about $240 per participant before any undisclosed government pricing or commercial discount. That calculation is based on OpenAI’s published monthly price, not on the terms of the Malta agreement, which the company has not released. (mdia.gov.mt) OpenAI says ChatGPT Plus includes higher usage limits and access to advanced features in the ChatGPT web app. The subscription is separate from API access, which OpenAI says is billed independently. ### Why is Malta pairing the subscription with a course? Silvio Schembri, Malta’s minister for economy, enterprise and strategic projects, said in OpenAI’s statement that the government wanted citizens “to build the confidence and skills needed to thrive in a digital world.” Malta’s government said the course is meant to help the public use AI “confidently, securely, and responsibly.” (help.openai.com) George Osborne, OpenAI’s head of OpenAI for Countries, said in the company statement that governments have a role in making sure populations have both access to AI tools and the skills to use them. Those comments were part of OpenAI’s announcement and amount to the company’s rationale for the structure of the programme. ### What happens next? May 2026 is the start of the first phase, according to OpenAI and Reuters, with distribution handled by the Malta Digital Innovation Authority as eligible users complete the course. (openai.com) The course platform says the programme is tied to eID-based registration and issues certificates after the required modules are finished.