A £2 billion deal between OpenAI boss Sam Altman and the UK’s Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, Peter Kyle, for ChatGPT Plus to be given to UK residents for free was reportedly floated.
ChatGPT reportedly offered to sell free access to its premium artificial intelligence (AI) tool to the UK.
It is claimed Sam Altman – the boss of OpenAI, the firm behind ChatGPT – and the UK’s Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology Peter Kyle reportedly spoke about a £2 billion deal to give UK residents access to ChatGPT Plus.
The Guardian reports that two sources with “direct knowledge of the meeting” say the idea for the UK to get free access to the premium product was part of a collaboration discussion between OpenAI and the UK Government during Mr Kyle’s trip to San Francisco, California, USA.
However, the publication claims that Mr. Kyle “never really took the idea seriously”.
The reported talks strengthen the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology’s appeal to AI, even though there are worries over how accurate AI chatbot answers are, as well as privacy and copyright issues.
ChatGPT Plus is a paid-for version of ChatGPT, which costs $20 per month and provides users with faster responses and priority access to new features.
ChatGPT can produce text, images, videos and music after receiving prompts by users, drawing on existing work – which has raised questions about whether it causes copyright infringement.
Users have criticised generative AI tools, including ChatGPT, for – on occasions – producing inaccurate information.
In July, Mr. Kyle signed a non-binding agreement with OpenAI for its use in the UK’s public services, and it could grant OpenAI access to government data, as well as its use in different sectors, including education, security, defence and the justice system.
The Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology has publicly lauded ChatGPT in the past, and in March, he admitted to using it to get advice on policy and comms.
According to records, he asked the AI tool which podcasts he could appear on to reach as many people as possible.
Mr Kyle. also instructed ChatGPT to give him definitions on “quantum” and “digital inclusion”.
He told PoliticsHome in January: “ChatGPT is fantastically good, and where there are things that you really struggle to understand in depth, ChatGPT can be a very good tutor for it.”
UK technology minister reportedly discussed £2bn deal for free ChatGPT Plus access to residents
