Yes, Battlestar Galactica fans, that’s right, people in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) will be able to get free access to ChatGPT Plus, OpenAI’s premium AI chatbot subscription. The program is part of a collaboration between the UAE government and OpenAI, and it makes the UAE the only country in the world to give all its citizens access to an AI model.
What’s ChatGPT Plus?
ChatGPT Plus ChatGPT Plus is a paid subscription tier, which will improve on the free version of ChatGPT by giving subscribers priority through peak hours, faster response times, and early access to new features and improvements. This service normally runs $20 per month. But in this new program, UAE residents will be getting access to ChatGPT Plus for free.
The Stargate UAE Project
The availability of ChatGPT Plus for free is part of Stargate UAE, a major AI data center project located in Abu Dhabi. The project calls for a one gigawatt AI computing cluster, with the first 200 megawatts going online by the end of 2026. The centre is being built in partnership with Emirati technology company G42, with several high profile technology firms such as Oracle, Nvidia, Cisco and SoftBank also taking part.
Boarder Implications
This collaboration is part of OpenAI’s “OpenAI for Countries” initiative which focuses on fostering broad and effective use of AI tools around the world. The UAE’s investiture in AI accessibility and infrastructure, then, reflects its positioning as a global leader in artificial intelligence. The initiative is aimed at driving technology innovation and digital convergence in the region.
Conclusion
To recap, thanks to the joint venture with the UAE government, all residents of the country will soon have free use of ChatGPT Plus. Not only does this transfer add an AI boost to people, it places the UAE at the cutting edge of AI development and adoption.
