UK minister floated “ChatGPT Plus for everyone” — but walked it back

During talks in San Francisco, UK tech secretary Peter Kyle and OpenAI CEO Sam Altman kicked around a wild idea: giving every UK citizen ChatGPT Plus access.

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- A £2 billion national license was mentioned — but Kyle admitted he wasn’t serious about the plan

- The chat came as part of a broader UK–OpenAI partnership to explore AI in public services like justice, education, and defense

- Critics warn the government risks deep dependence on Big Tech without clear oversight or data safeguards

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The fact the idea was even raised shows how fast AI is shifting from a private tool to a potential piece of national infrastructure