The story of the UK’s engagement with OpenAI reveals a pragmatic pivot from a grand vision of universal AI access to a more focused strategy of targeted public service deals. An initial idea to provide every citizen with ChatGPT Plus for £2 billion was replaced by a more modest agreement to explore AI in government.
The first phase of this engagement, represented by the talks between Technology Secretary Peter Kyle and OpenAI’s Sam Altman, was characterized by blue-sky thinking. The national subscription model was a bold, if financially unviable, attempt to achieve mass AI literacy and adoption in a single stroke.
When the cost of this vision proved too high, the government shifted to a more practical, project-based approach. The Memorandum of Understanding signed in July embodies this second phase. It concentrates on applying AI to specific challenges within the public sector, such as improving efficiency in healthcare or education, offering a more controlled and measurable return on investment.
This evolution in strategy is a common pattern in how governments adopt new technologies. The initial hype and grand visions often give way to more cautious, incremental implementations that are easier to fund and manage. The UK’s journey with OpenAI is a clear case study in this process of technological and political adaptation.