Sam Altman May Have A $2.5 Billion ‘plan’ To Offer Access To ChatGPT’s Premium Plan For Free To All Users Of This Country

The idea came up during talks with UK Technology Secretary Peter Kyle, as part of broader discussions on collaboration between OpenAI and the UK.

According to The Guardian, the suggestion first arose in earlier conversations in San Francisco. Kyle reportedly did not take it seriously due to the high cost, but the talks highlight the UK government’s strong interest in AI, despite concerns over accuracy, privacy and copyright.

Currently, OpenAI offers free access to ChatGPT and a $20-per-month ChatGPT Plus plan, which provides faster responses and early access to new features.

Referring to the UK being ranked among the company’s five biggest markets for paid ChatGPT subscriptions, an OpenAI spokesperson said: “Millions of Brits are already using ChatGPT every day for free. In July, we signed an MoU [a memorandum of understanding] with the government to explore how we can best support the growth of AI in the UK, for the UK. In line with the government’s vision of using this technology to unlock economic opportunity for everyday people, our shared goal is to democratise access to AI. The more people who can use it, the more widely its benefits will spread.”

Beyond the US, OpenAI has engaged with several governments and struck a deal with the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to roll out ChatGPT nationwide, integrating it into sectors like transport, healthcare, and education.

UK government records show Kyle met Altman for dinners in March and April. By July, Kyle had signed a non-binding agreement with OpenAI to explore AI adoption in public services, which could grant the company access to government data and see its tools applied in education, defence, security, and justice.

“ChatGPT is fantastically good, and where there are things that you really struggle to understand in depth, ChatGPT can be a very good tutor for it,” the minister told PoliticsHome earlier this year.