UK Weighed Universal AI Access, Sizing Up a £2bn OpenAI Partnership

The United Kingdom’s government weighed the possibility of providing universal access to advanced artificial intelligence through a partnership with OpenAI. A deal to give every UK resident a subscription to ChatGPT Plus was discussed by Technology Secretary Peter Kyle and OpenAI co-founder Sam Altman, with an estimated cost of £2 billion.
This potential partnership was explored during a meeting in San Francisco focused on opportunities for collaboration. The concept was ambitious: to equip an entire nation with premium AI tools, thereby fostering digital skills, boosting productivity, and cementing the UK’s status as a forward-thinking technological leader.
Sources familiar with the discussion state that the financial implications were the primary reason the idea did not progress. Minister Peter Kyle reportedly did not consider it a serious proposition due to the immense cost. This highlights the practical challenges governments face when trying to translate bold technological visions into affordable public policy.
Despite this specific idea being shelved, the UK’s engagement with OpenAI continues. A non-binding agreement is already in place to explore how AI can be integrated into public services. This ongoing collaboration suggests that while a universal subscription may be off the table, more targeted AI initiatives within government are still very much a priority.