UK Considered Universal ChatGPT Plus Access to Boost AI Adoption

In a bid to dramatically accelerate the adoption of artificial intelligence, the UK government discussed a plan to provide universal access to ChatGPT Plus. The potential £2 billion deal was mooted in a meeting between Technology Secretary Peter Kyle and OpenAI’s Sam Altman as a way to embed AI skills across the entire population.
The rationale behind such a move would be to give every citizen hands-on experience with advanced AI, overcoming barriers to access and encouraging widespread experimentation and use. This could, in theory, foster a more innovative and AI-savvy workforce, giving UK businesses a competitive edge in the global economy.
While the idea was ultimately rejected due to cost, it reveals a proactive approach to a common problem: the slow adoption of new technologies by businesses and the public. Minister Kyle himself has previously used ChatGPT to ask for advice on why British businesses were not adopting AI faster, indicating this is a key concern for him.
The UK is already one of OpenAI’s top five markets for paid subscriptions, showing a strong appetite for the technology. The government’s idea, though not pursued, was an attempt to capitalise on this enthusiasm and expand it from a niche of early adopters to the entire nation.