UK to Offer Premium ChatGPT Plus Access to All Citizens in £2 Billion Deal with OpenAI

OpenAI CEO Sam Altman proposed a £2-billion deal to offer ChatGPT Plus to all UK citizens. The UK's technology secretary, Peter Kyle, met with Altman in San Francisco and discussed opportunities for collaboration between the UK and OpenAI. The UK is already one of OpenAI's top 5 markets for ChatGPT Plus subscriptions. The UK and OpenAI have also deepened collaboration on AI security research and the company aims to explore investing in British AI infrastructure.

The UK government is considering a significant investment to provide ChatGPT Plus access to all UK citizens. A proposal to the tune of £2 billion was floated during a meeting between UK technology secretary Peter Kyle and Sam Altman, co-founder of OpenAI. The meeting, held in San Francisco, discussed potential collaborations between the UK and OpenAI [1].

ChatGPT Plus, a premium version of the popular AI tool, offers faster response times and priority access to new features. The UK is already one of OpenAI's top five markets for ChatGPT Plus subscriptions, indicating a strong interest in the technology [1].

The UK and OpenAI have already deepened their collaboration, with a non-binding agreement signed in July to explore AI use in UK public services. This agreement could grant OpenAI access to government data and lead to its software being used in various sectors such as education, defense, security, and the justice system [1].

OpenAI has expressed its interest in supporting AI growth in the UK, aiming to democratize access to AI. The company believes that the more people who can use AI, the more widely its benefits will spread [1].

While the UK government's interest in AI is evident, the potential deal has raised concerns about copyright infringement and the accuracy of AI-generated content. Artists and creatives have expressed concerns over planned changes to copyright law that would allow AI companies to train their models using copyrighted work without permission unless the owner opts out [1].

Additionally, there are worries that the government's approach may be too focused on big tech companies at the expense of smaller players in the AI industry. UKAI, a trade body representing the UK's artificial intelligence industry, has repeatedly argued for a more balanced approach [1].

As the global AI race intensifies, the UK's exploration of nationwide ChatGPT Plus access represents a bold step towards embracing AI technology. However, it also highlights the complex challenges that governments face in balancing innovation, accessibility, and the protection of intellectual property rights in the rapidly evolving AI landscape [2].

References:
[1] https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2025/aug/23/uk-minister-peter-kyle-chatgpt-plus-openai-sam-altman
[2] https://theoutpost.ai/news-story/uk-government-considers-nationwide-chat-gpt-plus-access-in-talks-with-open-ai-19459/