Malta is bidding to become the first country in the world to transform access to artificial intelligence into a widespread public service. With the program “AI for Everyone”the government introduces an unprecedented measure: one year free subscription to ChatGPT Plus or Microsoft Copilot for all residents who complete a dedicated training course.
The initiative was born from one collaboration between Maltese government, OpenAI and Microsoftinserted into a larger plan for approximately 100 million euros intended for the digital transformation of the island. The objective is ambitious: to make the population not only users, but aware of AI as a daily tool.
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A mandatory course to access the digital bonus
To obtain the free subscription, residency is not enough: it is necessary complete an online AI literacy course developed by the University of Malta and the Malta Digital Innovation Authority. The course, available in Maltese and English, starts from an introductory module of approximately two hoursdesigned for those without technical skills.
The lessons explain what artificial intelligence is, how it works, what its practical applications are and above all its limits, with a strong emphasis on the conscious and critical use of the results generated. Only after passing the course basic you gain access to the free annual subscription, which represents the heart of the initiative.
ChatGPT Plus and Copilot as public tools
The underlying idea is to transform advanced AI tools into a mass resource. According to the government, the aim is to avoid a digital divide and ensure that no one is left out of technological evolution. The deputy prime minister Ian Borg summarized the vision of the project by stating that “no one should be left behind”, while Microsoft defined the initiative as a model based not only on technological infrastructures, but on human skills.
A model that could set a precedent in Europe
The Maltese case is part of an international trend that involves several countries test the integration of AI into education and public systems. Greece and Estonia have already launched school programmes, but never with such a large national scope. Malta, on the other hand, aims for a total approach: citizens, students and workers involved in a single training platform. AI is treated like this almost like a utilitylike energy or internet connection.
The island therefore becomes a truly global test bed. If the project is successful, it could pave the way for similar policies in other countries, redefining the very concept of digital literacy. For the first time, access to tools like ChatGPT is not just an individual choice, but a state-led path to building a society more prepared to the era of artificial intelligence.
