Malta offers free Microsoft 365 Copilot, ChatGPT Plus

Malta’s government said on May 16 it will offer a free one-year subscription to either ChatGPT Plus or Microsoft 365 Personal with Copilot to people who complete a new national AI literacy course. The program, branded “AI for Everyone” or “AI Għal Kulħadd,” was launched by the government with the Malta Digital Innovation Authority and the University of Malta. Officials said the course is free, self-paced and aimed at citizens and residents in Malta and Gozo aged 14 and over. The government said the subscriptions are part of a partnership with OpenAI and Microsoft. ### Who can get the free subscription, and what do they have to do first? Malta’s press release said the initiative is open to citizens and residents in Malta and Gozo aged 14 and over. The government said participants must complete the foundational part of the course before receiving the free one-year subscription. The official AI for All site says users register through Malta’s e-ID system and receive an AI literacy certificate after completing the required modules. (gov.mt) The Malta Digital Innovation Authority said the course is designed for people without prior technical knowledge. The site says the program includes three core modules covering AI fundamentals, everyday use and learning, with optional additional tracks for professionals, job seekers, entrepreneurs, accessibility and education. ### Which products did Malta name in the offer? The government’s May 16 statement named ChatGPT Plus and Microsoft 365 Personal Copilot as the two services covered by the one-year offer. (gov.mt) The AI for All website uses similar language, describing the reward as a free one-year “Premium AI subscription” and specifying ChatGPT Plus or Microsoft 365 Personal with Copilot AI. (ai4all.gov.mt) OpenAI’s own announcement described the partnership as a rollout of ChatGPT Plus to Maltese citizens after completion of the course. OpenAI said the Malta Digital Innovation Authority would manage distribution to eligible participants in the first phase. ### How long is the course, and what does Malta say people will learn? Malta’s press release said the course takes about two hours to complete. (gov.mt) The government said it was built to introduce foundational AI concepts in accessible terms and to focus on practical use, productivity, continuous learning and responsible use. The AI for All site says the program is intended to help people understand what AI can and cannot do, use it safely and critically, and spot unreliable outputs. (openai.com) The Malta Digital Innovation Authority also says the course is meant for everyday life, work and learning rather than for specialist technical training. ### Did Malta say how many people will get access or what the deal costs? Neither Malta’s government press release nor the official AI for All site disclosed a participant cap, budget or the financial terms of the agreements with OpenAI and Microsoft. (gov.mt) The materials reviewed also did not set out a public timetable for how many subscriptions would be distributed in the initial phase. (ai4all.gov.mt) OpenAI said the “first phase” of the program would launch in May 2026 and that the initiative would scale as more Maltese residents and citizens abroad complete the course. That statement provides the clearest public timing on rollout in the official materials now available. ### Why is Malta calling this a first? Malta’s government described the launch as the first national online AI literacy course tied to access to tools such as ChatGPT Plus and Microsoft 365 Copilot. (gov.mt) OpenAI separately called it a “world’s first partnership” to roll out ChatGPT Plus to all Maltese citizens through an AI literacy course. Those descriptions came from the government and OpenAI; Reuters could not independently verify whether no other country has launched a comparable program. (openai.com) Silvio Schembri, Malta’s minister for the economy, said in the OpenAI statement that the program was intended to help citizens “build the confidence and skills needed to thrive in a digital world.” The AI for All homepage also carries Schembri’s name alongside the pitch that the program is meant to help people use AI “with confidence” in everyday life. May 2026 is the first public launch window cited in the official announcements, with the Malta Digital Innovation Authority handling distribution to eligible participants. (gov.mt) The AI for All portal says registration is tied to an active e-ID account and says further specialization pathways will be released in the coming months. (ai4all.gov.mt)