OpenAI just announced they're offering free ChatGPT Plus subscriptions to every citizen of Malta for a full year. The catch? You need to complete an AI course before you can activate it.
This is the first time OpenAI has done a country-wide rollout like this. Malta's government is essentially using ChatGPT Plus as an incentive to get its population trained up on AI fundamentals.
For context, ChatGPT Plus normally costs $20 per month and gets you access to GPT-4, faster response times, and priority access during peak hours. That's a $240 value per person.
The mandatory course requirement is interesting. It suggests Malta wants informed users, not just free subscribers who'll never touch the tool. They're treating AI literacy as a national infrastructure project.
This could be a template for other small nations looking to rapidly upskill their workforce. If you're competing globally, having your entire working population comfortable with advanced AI tools is a legitimate competitive advantage.
No word yet on what the course covers or how long it takes to complete. But if you're in Malta and have been on the fence about paying for Plus, this is your moment.
