In an exclusive revelation, it has been learned that the UK’s technology minister and the boss of OpenAI floated a potential £2 billion pact to give the entire country access to ChatGPT Plus. The discussion between Peter Kyle and Sam Altman represented a potentially groundbreaking, but ultimately too costly, public-private partnership.
Two sources with direct knowledge of the high-level meeting confirmed that the ambitious idea was put forward during a wider conversation about collaboration. This was not a formal government proposal but an exploratory concept to gauge the appetite for a truly nationwide AI initiative.
Those close to the talks say the idea was more of a thought experiment than a concrete plan, with Minister Kyle quickly identifying the financial impracticality. The episode highlights the informal, brainstorming nature of some high-stakes discussions between government and industry leaders.
Despite its failure to launch, the disclosure of this conversation provides a rare window into the UK’s strategic thinking on AI. It shows an administration eager to explore every possible avenue to secure a leading role in the technology’s development, even if it means contemplating massive levels of public investment.