UAE Becomes First Country to Offer Free ChatGPT Plus to All Residents

The UAE is poised to make history by covering all ChatGPT Plus memberships for its residents. Through this initiative, OpenAI and the UAE government join forces to help bring the latest AI to the public.

Included in the plan is the development of Stargate UAE, a huge AI data center going up in Abu Dhabi. The facility is part of a worldwide movement from OpenAI, called “OpenAI for Countries,” helping countries apply AI to their own needs. A first phase of Stargate UAE, planned for launch in the next year, will have a computing power of 200 megawatts and is meant to be expanded to 1 gigawatt, the planners say.

All UAE residents will soon be able to use ChatGPT Plus which provides access to the most advanced AI from OpenAI, at no cost. It can be used for writing documents, learning, programming and making schedules. The UAE is making these useful tools available to its citizens without charge.

Oracle, Nvidia, Cisco, SoftBank and G42, the AI company from the UAE with Microsoft as a backer, are also part of the project. By partnering, they work to make the UAE a top AI development center in the area.

OpenAI CEO Sam Altman says this collaboration aims to take AI’s advantages in healthcare, education and clean energy to more areas around the world. The UAE has promised to match the funding it provides for AI projects at home with the same amount for similar AI work in the United States, up to $20 billion.

This partnership is changing the way AI is available and shared around the world.