UK Technology Secretary Peter Kyle’s public praise for ChatGPT as “fantastically good” set the stage for his subsequent discussions with OpenAI about a potential £2 billion deal to provide it to the nation. The minister’s open admiration for the AI tool provides a clear context for his willingness to entertain such an ambitious proposal.
In a January interview, Kyle championed the chatbot’s effectiveness as a learning aid, stating, “where there are things that you really struggle to understand in depth, ChatGPT can be a very good tutor for it.” This public endorsement came just months before his meetings with OpenAI CEO Sam Altman where the national subscription idea was floated.
The minister’s personal conviction in the product’s value appears to be a key factor in the government’s broader engagement with OpenAI. His positive experience seems to have translated into a policy ambition to share this powerful “tutor” with the entire country.
While fiscal reality ultimately put the brakes on the £2 billion plan, the episode serves as a powerful example of how a key policymaker’s personal technology use can directly influence national-level strategic conversations, bridging the gap between a consumer product and a potential piece of public infrastructure.
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