UK Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology Peter Kyle and OpenAI CEO Sam Altman discussed a potential £2 billion deal that would provide premium access to ChatGPT Plus for all UK residents. According to information obtained by The Guardian, the proposal emerged during a meeting in San Francisco in August 2025, where both parties explored broader collaboration opportunities between OpenAI and the United Kingdom. Sources indicated that Kyle did not take the initiative seriously, primarily due to its significant cost implications of up to £2 billion (approximately $2.7 billion).
The proposal came following the July signing of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) that would allow OpenAI access to government data and enable deployment of its software in areas including education, defence, security, and the justice system. Kyle, who met with Altman in March and April 2025, is known as an enthusiastic advocate of artificial intelligence and openly uses ChatGPT in his work – in January, he acknowledged to PoliticsHome that ChatGPT is fantastically good in situations where one needs to understand a topic in depth. The UK ranks among OpenAI's top five markets for paid ChatGPT subscriptions, with ChatGPT Plus priced at $20 (£15.80) monthly offering faster response times and early access to new features.
A spokesperson for the Department of Science and Technology confirmed they had not put forward any proposal regarding nationwide ChatGPT Plus access or discussed it with other departments. An OpenAI spokesperson emphasised that millions of Brits are already using ChatGPT every day for free, and the purpose of the July memorandum of understanding is to explore how they can best support the growth of AI in the UK. The company stated that their shared goal with the government is to use the technology to unlock economic opportunities for everyday people and to democratise access to AI.
Source:
Dalvinder Kular
Archie Mitchell
Eleni Courea
