OpenAI Partners with Malta to Provide One Year of Free ChatGPT Access to Citizens

OpenAI signed its first partnership with a national government on Saturday, announcing a deal with the Government of Malta that will give every citizen free access to the paid version of ChatGPT for one year. The agreement provides access through a government-led AI literacy programme.

Citizens and residents registered with Malta’s online identity system can apply for the free subscriptions after completing a free online course called AI for All developed by the University of Malta.

According to the Malta Digital Innovation Authority, the course is designed to help people understand what AI is, what it can and cannot do, and how to use it responsibly at home and at work. The first phase of the Malta programme will launch in May. The Malta Digital Innovation Authority will manage access to the free subscriptions.

It said the programme will grow as more people complete the course. Euronews reported that the partnership is part of a growing trend among governments to find practical ways to help people build confidence using AI and apply it to everyday tasks. Last year, Anthropic announced a project that gives all teachers in Iceland access to Claude for lesson planning, classroom materials and administrative tasks.

In September 2025, OpenAI announced a partnership with the Greek government to bring its technology to secondary schools and start-ups across the country. In February 2025, the UK government signed a memorandum of understanding with Anthropic to improve how people access and interact with government information and services online.