'We are making sure that every citizen, regardless of their background, has the chance to build the confidence and skills needed to thrive in a digital world,' said Malta's economy minister

Malta’s government announced on Saturday that the country’s citizens and residents will gain free access to ChatGPT Plus and Microsoft Copilot for a year under deals closed with OpenAI and Microsoft.

The announcement comes as governments around the world – including the EU – are pushing for their citizens and businesses to adopt AI, hoping to gain a productivity edge. At the same time, AI companies are looking to translate hundreds of billions of euros invested into data centres into reliable customers for their tech.

Under Saturday’s partnership, the University of Malta will provide a two-hour course to individuals who, after completing it, will be able to access both tools for a year without paying.

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