Malta offers free ChatGPT Plus through AI literacy initiative

OpenAI and the Government of Malta have announced a partnership to provide Maltese citizens with access to ChatGPT Plus through a national AI literacy initiative.

The programme, called AI for All, will require participants to complete a course developed by the University of Malta before receiving one year of ChatGPT Plus at no cost. The course is designed to explain what AI is, what it can and cannot do, and how it can be used responsibly at home and at work.

The first phase is scheduled to launch in May, with distribution managed by the Malta Digital Innovation Authority. OpenAI said the programme will scale as more Maltese residents and citizens abroad complete the course.

OpenAI framed the partnership within its OpenAI for Countries initiative, which supports governments and institutions developing national AI adoption strategies. The company said the Malta model combines a locally designed course, access to ChatGPT Plus and a national programme intended to help citizens use AI for learning, work, creativity and public participation.

George Osborne, Head of OpenAI for Countries, said the partnership reflects a model in which national AI access is paired with skills development. Malta’s Minister for Economy, Enterprise and Strategic Projects, Silvio Schembri, said the initiative is intended to help citizens build confidence and practical skills for a digital economy.

Why does it matter?

Malta’s initiative links access to advanced AI tools with structured AI literacy, rather than treating adoption as a matter of availability alone. By requiring citizens to complete training before receiving ChatGPT Plus, the programme addresses both access and responsible use. It also shows how governments may increasingly shape AI adoption through national skills programmes, partnerships with AI companies and public-facing digital capability initiatives.

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