US artificial intelligence company OpenAI said on Saturday it ​had signed a deal ‌with the government of Malta to give all residents access to ​its ChatGPT Plus service for ​one year after they follow ⁠a course on how ​to use AI.

The programme will start ​in May and is expected to scale up as more Maltese residents ​complete the course, which ​will be free.

It will also be open ‌to ⁠Maltese citizens living abroad.

“We are turning an unfamiliar concept into practical assistance for our families, ​students, ​and workers,” ⁠Maltese Economy Minister Silvio Schembri was quoted ​as saying in an ​OpenAI ⁠statement.

Malta is the first country to launch such a programme.

The ⁠company ​did not disclose the ​financial details of the deal.