Everything You Need to Know About Malta's AI for All (AI4All) Scheme

Malta just made history. The tiny island nation has become the first country in the world to partner with OpenAI and offer every single citizen and resident a free one-year subscription to ChatGPT Plus. No catch, no cost. Just complete a short online course first.

If you live in Malta, hold Maltese citizenship, or know someone who does, this guide covers everything: what the scheme is, who qualifies, how to sign up, what you actually get, and how to make the most of it.

What Is the AI for All (AI4All) Scheme?

The AI for All programme is a national AI literacy initiative launched by the Maltese government in May 2026.

The idea is straightforward. The government wants every person in Malta to understand how artificial intelligence works and how to use it safely in daily life. To make that happen, they teamed up with three big names:

• OpenAI (the company behind ChatGPT)
• Microsoft (the company behind Copilot)
• The University of Malta (who built the course)

Complete the free course, and you walk away with a free premium AI subscription worth around €240 a year. That is either ChatGPT Plus or Microsoft 365 Personal Copilot, your choice.

The official home of the programme is ai4all.gov.mt.

Why Did Malta Do This?

Malta is not the first small country to make bold moves in tech. It was one of the earliest countries to regulate blockchain and cryptocurrency. Now it is doing the same with AI, and on a scale no other government has attempted before.

Deputy Prime Minister Ian Borg summed it up clearly: “We do not want anyone to be left behind. AI is changing everything we do.”

Economy Minister Silvio Schembri added: “We are turning an unfamiliar concept into practical assistance for our families, students, and workers.”

The initiative is backed by a €100 million government budget for digitalisation, announced in the 2026 Budget. This is not a small pilot. This is a national strategy.

George Osborne, Head of OpenAI for Countries, called it a world first: “With this partnership, Malta is leading Europe and the world in bringing AI to all its citizens. Where Malta leads, I hope others will follow.”

Who Can Apply?

You are eligible if you are:

• A Maltese citizen living in Malta
• A resident in Malta aged 14 or over
• A Maltese citizen living abroad

That covers a huge number of people. Malta’s population is around 574,000. Every single one of them, plus citizens overseas, can take part.

What you need to apply:

• An active eID account (Malta’s national digital identity system)
• Around two hours of your time
• A smartphone, tablet, or computer

No technical background. No prior experience with AI. That is the whole point.

How Does It Work? Step by Step

Step 1: Go to ai4all.gov.mt

Head to ai4all.gov.mt and log in using your eID. This is how the government verifies your identity and ensures only eligible people receive the subscription.

Step 2: Enrol in the Free Course

The course is called AI for Everyone and was developed by the University of Malta in partnership with the Malta Digital Innovation Authority (MDIA). It is available in both Maltese and English.

The course takes roughly two hours to complete. You can go at your own pace. There is no deadline. You can do it in one sitting or spread it across a few days.

Step 3: Complete the Course

The course covers:

• What AI actually is (and what it is not)
• What AI can and cannot do
• How to use AI responsibly at home and at work
• Practical ways to use AI to get things done

No technical jargon. No complicated maths. It is built for everyone, from teenagers in school to retirees, from artists to CEOs.

Step 4: Choose Your Free Subscription

Once you finish the course, you pick one of the following:

• ChatGPT Plus (from OpenAI)
• Microsoft 365 Personal Copilot (from Microsoft)

Both are completely free for 12 months.

Step 5: Start Using Your Tools

That is it. You are in.

ChatGPT Plus vs Microsoft Copilot: Which Should You Choose?

	ChatGPT Plus	Microsoft 365 Copilot
Best for	Open-ended tasks, writing, research, creative work	Office tasks, documents, emails, spreadsheets
Works in	Browser and mobile app	Microsoft apps (Word, Excel, Outlook)
Needs Office subscription	No	Works alongside Microsoft 365
Image generation	Yes	Yes (via Designer)
Great for beginners	Yes	Yes

Our take: If you want a flexible AI assistant for everyday life, go with ChatGPT Plus. If most of your work happens inside Microsoft Office, Copilot is a natural fit.

What Comes After the Course?

The basic AI for All course is just the beginning. The MDIA has confirmed that industry-specific tracks will follow for people who want deeper training in their field. Whether you work in healthcare, finance, education, or creative industries, there will be more tailored learning available as the programme grows.

The programme is designed to scale. As more people complete the course, more subscriptions are distributed and more advanced content becomes available.

Tips to Get the Most Out of Your Free Subscription

Once you have your free ChatGPT Plus or Copilot subscription, here is how to hit the ground running.

Start simple. Ask it to help you write an email, summarise an article, or explain something you are curious about. You do not need a complicated prompt to get value straight away.

Use it at work. Whether you are a tradesperson, a teacher, a small business owner, or a student, AI can handle repetitive tasks so you can focus on what matters.

Ask it to explain things. Not sure about something in the news? Confused by a contract? Ask ChatGPT. It is like having a knowledgeable friend available 24/7.

Be specific. The more detail you give, the better the answer. Instead of “write me an email,” try “write a polite follow-up email to a client who has not responded in two weeks.”

Experiment. There is no wrong way to explore. The more you use it, the faster you will find the ways it genuinely saves you time.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the course really free? Yes. The course costs nothing. The subscription costs nothing. There are no hidden fees.

Do I need to complete the course in one go? No. The course is self-paced. You can start and stop whenever you like.

I live abroad but I am Maltese. Can I still apply? Yes. The scheme is open to Maltese citizens living overseas.

What if I already have a ChatGPT Plus account? Details on how this is handled for existing subscribers have not yet been confirmed. Keep an eye on ai4all.gov.mt for updates.

What happens after the free year ends? After 12 months, your free subscription will end. You can choose to pay for a subscription at the standard rate, or explore free alternatives.

Is my data safe? Both OpenAI and Microsoft have privacy policies in place. The course platform is run by MDIA, a Maltese government authority. As with any online service, it is good practice to read the terms before signing up.

What language is the course in? Both Maltese and English. You can choose whichever you prefer.

Need Help Getting Started?

The AI4All scheme gives you the tools. But knowing what to do with them once you have access is a different challenge altogether.

That is where the team at Neural AI comes in. We work with individuals and businesses in Malta to make sense of AI and put it to practical use. Whether you want help choosing the right subscription, figuring out how to use AI in your specific job, or building AI into your business processes, we are happy to help.

Think of us as your local guide through everything AI-related. We are genuinely excited about what this scheme means for Malta, and we want to make sure as many people as possible actually benefit from it.

Ready to start? Head to ai4all.gov.mt and claim your free subscription today.

Sources: OpenAI, Malta Digital Innovation Authority (MDIA), University of Malta, Newsbook, MaltaToday, Euronews.