Malta first in the world to roll out free premium AI access for all citizens, tied to literacy course 

Citizens in Malta and Gozo will receive a free one-year subscription to either ChatGPT Plus or Microsoft 365 Copilot, after completing a national online literacy course on artificial intelligence (AI). 

This was announced by the Maltese government and OpenAI last Saturday, which aimed to provide free AI education and access to all residents aged 14 and above in the two main islands of the Maltese archipelago. 

The first phase of the programme was launched this month, with the Malta Digital Innovation Authority (MDIA) managing the distribution of access to eligible users. 

The government’s official release highlighted that the programme would scale to include more Maltese residents and citizens abroad.  

How it works 

Citizens can easily register for the “AI for Everyone” course using their national digital ID (e-ID) from a mobile phone, tablet, or computer. 

The online course is self-paced and takes approximately two hours to complete. It was offered in both Maltese and English. 

After completing the course, users would receive an email granting one-year free access to an AI tool of their choice, said MDIA’s CEO Kenneth Brincat. 

The course was co-curated by MDIA and the University of Malta, and designed to help people – even those with no prior knowledge of AI – to understand what AI is, what it can do and can’t do, and how to use it for everyday life and work.   

“Through this course, we are ensuring that every citizen has the chance to build confidence and necessary skills to succeed in a digital world.  

“By pairing this education with free access to advanced digital tools, we are transforming a concept that may not be very familiar into a practical, everyday aid for our families, students, and workers,” said Minister for the Economy, Enterprise and Strategic Projects Silvio Schembri at the launch event. 

From regulatory infrastructure to citizen's access 

The project has been built on the country’s groundwork since 2019 to build up its regulatory infrastructure.  

This included having established an AI taskforce and launching one of the world's earliest national AI strategies, subsequently building out an ethical framework, a regulatory sandbox, and an innovation launchpad. 

The objective now is to democratise access at the individual level. 

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Tourism Ian Borg emphasised how investing in citizens was the “best defence” in a world full of uncertainties. 

“The resilience and prosperity of our country begin with the strength and capabilities of each and every one of us,” he said. 

OpenAI highlighted in their release that instead of a one-size-fits-all-model, they partner with governments to build AI around their local priorities and sectors, whether that means education, workforce training, public services, or AI literacy.