Malta signs OpenAI-Microsoft deal

OpenAI and Microsoft signed an agreement with the Maltese government on May 16 to tie free access to paid AI tools to a national literacy course, putting Malta at the center of a new kind of public-sector AI rollout. The programme, called “AI for Everyone,” gives eligible citizens and residents a free one-year subscription after they complete a self-paced course on AI use. OpenAI described the arrangement as a world-first national partnership of that scale, while Malta’s government said the course is open to people in Malta and Gozo aged 14 and over. Neither OpenAI nor Malta disclosed the financial terms of the deal. ### Who gets access, and what do they receive? Malta’s government said citizens and residents aged 14 and older can enroll in the online course at no cost. The programme is available through Malta’s digital identity system, and the Malta Digital Innovation Authority, or MDIA, is handling access and distribution. Participants who complete the core course can receive a free one-year subscription to either ChatGPT Plus or Microsoft 365 Personal Copilot, according to the government and OpenAI. (openai.com) Times of Malta reported that ChatGPT Plus retails at about 23 euros a month, while Copilot pricing varies by product tier, and said the deal’s cost to the government was not disclosed. (gov.mt) ### What does Malta require people to do first? The MDIA said the programme begins with three core modules covering AI fundamentals, everyday use and learning. The course is designed to explain what AI can and cannot do, how to use it responsibly, and how to spot unreliable outputs and protect personal data. The Maltese government said the introductory course takes about two hours and does not require prior technical knowledge. (gov.mt) After the core modules, participants can choose additional tracks including AI for professionals, job seekers, entrepreneurship, accessibility and formal education, and they receive certificates for completed modules. ### Why is Microsoft part of a deal framed around ChatGPT? (mdia.gov.mt) Microsoft was included because Malta is pairing OpenAI’s consumer chatbot with Microsoft’s productivity software assistant in the same public programme. The government’s May 16 statement said graduates can choose between ChatGPT Plus and Microsoft 365 Personal Copilot, rather than receiving both automatically. (gov.mt) Microsoft’s role also fits with Malta’s earlier AI procurement. Prime Minister Robert Abela said in May 2025 that Malta would spend 4 million euros to deploy Microsoft Copilot across the public service for 8,000 employees over two years, alongside training and a Microsoft-backed center of excellence. ### How did this deal come together? Malta first flagged the initiative in its 2026 budget plans. (gov.mt) Times of Malta reported that Finance Minister Clyde Caruana had said last year that people who completed an AI course would receive a free subscription to an AI service such as ChatGPT or Gemini. Foreign Minister Ian Borg said Maltese diplomats later held meetings in Silicon Valley that helped connect OpenAI with the MDIA, according to Times of Malta. (primeminister.gov.mt) At the launch event, Borg said the government wanted “everyone to benefit from the potential of technology,” while Economy Minister Silvio Schembri said the programme was meant to make AI a practical tool for families, students and workers. (timesofmalta.com) ### Why does this matter for OpenAI and Microsoft? OpenAI said the Malta agreement is part of its “OpenAI for Countries” push to work directly with governments on access and adoption. George Osborne, OpenAI’s head of OpenAI for Countries, said Malta was “leading Europe and the world in bringing AI to all its citizens.” Microsoft’s position in the arrangement comes weeks after it said it had amended its broader commercial agreement with OpenAI. (timesofmalta.com) Microsoft said on April 27 that it remains OpenAI’s primary cloud partner, keeps a non-exclusive license to OpenAI intellectual property through 2032, and will continue to participate in OpenAI’s growth as a major shareholder. (openai.com) ### What happens next, and where can people sign up? OpenAI said the first phase launches in May and will expand as more Maltese residents and citizens abroad complete the course. The MDIA’s programme page says registration is handled online through Malta’s eID system, and the agency is publishing course details, module options and eligibility information there. Malta’s government said the course is already being rolled out as part of its Vision 2050 digital policy agenda and follows a broader 100 million euro budget commitment for digitalisation and technologies including AI, cybersecurity, robotics and blockchain. (blogs.microsoft.com) The next concrete milestone is participant enrollment through the MDIA platform as the May launch phase proceeds. (gov.mt) (openai.com)