OpenAI has signed deals with fintech startups, tech giants, and even Disney, but it is breaking new ground by announcing a “world-first partnership” with the country of Malta. OpenAI said in a post on its website that it will provide ChatGPT Plus to every Malta resident or citizen for one year.
“Malta is the first country to launch a partnership of this scale as we refuse to let our citizens be left behind in the digital age,” Malta’s Minister of Economy, Enterprise and Strategic Projects, Silvio Schembri, said in a statement. “We are putting our people at the forefront of global change.”
For the approximately 574,250 residents of Malta, they must complete a course developed by the University of Malta before they can start a ChatGPT Plus subscription, which costs $20 per month in the US. The course teaches the basics of AI, but also how to use technology responsibly, whether at home or at work. Any interested Maltese residents must hold an active eID account from the EU to claim membership. According to OpenAI, the first phase of the program will launch this month, with the Malta Digital Innovation Authority managing delivery to eligible participants. OpenAI said the scope of the program will expand once more Maltese residents or its citizens abroad complete the courses.
While OpenAI has launched a new program in Malta, it is putting its Stargate data center plans in the UK on hold. The project was designed to help the UK build AI infrastructure, but the latest blockage was blamed on high energy costs and regulatory issues.
<a href