In a tense and carefully worded statement, a UK government spokesperson said, “We don’t recognise these claims,” in response to reports of a discussed £2 billion deal with OpenAI. The official denial comes after sources revealed a national ChatGPT Plus subscription was floated in talks between a minister and the company’s CEO.
The government’s pushback suggests a desire to control the narrative around its relationship with Big Tech and its spending priorities. Admitting to even a preliminary discussion about a £2 billion AI rollout could open it up to criticism for entertaining extravagant ideas while public services are under pressure. The Science and Technology department reinforced this, stating no proposal was taken forward.
This official response contrasts with the details provided by two sources with direct knowledge of the meeting, who described the idea being floated as part of a broader collaboration discussion. The discrepancy highlights the sensitive nature of negotiations between governments and powerful tech corporations.
The statement aims to shut down the story, but the revelation itself has already sparked debate about the government’s priorities and its proximity to major AI firms. Whether a formal “proposal” existed or not, the fact that a conversation of this nature took place at a high level remains a significant point of public interest.