UAE pioneers national AI access while Strategy doubles down amid legal pressure

May 27th, 2025

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Read Time: 10 Minutes

Today’s Menu

  • UAE becomes first nation to provide universal ChatGPT Plus access

  • Strategy defies lawsuit with massive Bitcoin accumulation

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TODAY IN AI

UAE becomes first nation to provide universal ChatGPT Plus access

The United Arab Emirates has made a groundbreaking move by acquiring ChatGPT Plus subscriptions for its entire population, becoming the first country to offer premium AI services to all citizens at no cost. This unprecedented initiative stems from a comprehensive partnership between the UAE and OpenAI aimed at accelerating national AI literacy and technological advancement.

ChatGPT Plus typically costs $20 monthly, creating a significant barrier for many users seeking access to advanced AI capabilities. By removing this economic obstacle, the UAE is ensuring its citizens gain early exposure to frontier AI technology that could prove crucial in an increasingly AI-driven global economy.

This national AI access program represents a strategic investment in human capital development. While OpenAI and competitors like Anthropic have pursued educational democratization initiatives, nothing has approached this scale or ambition. The UAE is essentially treating AI literacy as a public utility, similar to how governments have historically provided universal access to education or healthcare.

The partnership extends beyond user access to include Stargate UAE, a massive 1GW data center facility in Abu Dhabi scheduled to launch in 2026 with initial 200MW capacity. This infrastructure component positions the UAE as a regional AI hub while reducing dependence on external data processing.

The strategic implications are profound. By making its population AI-literate at scale, the UAE gains a competitive advantage in attracting AI-focused businesses and developing a workforce capable of thriving in an automated economy. This first-mover advantage could prove decisive as other nations scramble to match this level of public AI investment.

Other governments are likely watching this experiment closely, as the UAE's approach could become a template for national AI competitiveness strategies. Countries that fail to ensure widespread AI literacy among their populations may find themselves at significant economic disadvantages in the coming decade.

TODAY IN CRYPTO

Strategy defies lawsuit with massive Bitcoin accumulation

Strategy has responded to securities fraud allegations not with caution but with aggression, adding 4,020 BTC worth $427 million to its treasury this week at an average price of $106,237 per coin. This brings the company's total Bitcoin holdings to 580,250 BTC, valued at over $63.7 billion and representing nearly 3% of all Bitcoin in existence.

Despite facing a lawsuit alleging securities fraud related to its Bitcoin strategy, Strategy's stock has declined approximately 6% over the past five days. However, rather than retreating, the company is accelerating its capital raising efforts through a combination of stock sales and preferred share offerings, including a $2.1 billion raise via Series A preferred shares.

This aggressive accumulation aligns with CEO Michael Saylor's ambitious "42/42" plan to raise $84 billion in equity and debt to continue Bitcoin acquisitions through 2027. The strategy reflects unwavering conviction that Bitcoin's long-term trajectory will vindicate current valuations and justify the legal and financial risks.

Strategy's approach is creating a powerful demonstration effect across corporate America. More than 70 companies now hold Bitcoin on their balance sheets, with names like Twenty One, KULR, Nakamoto, Semler Scientific, and GD Culture following the Strategy playbook.

Analysts at Bernstein project these "Strategy copycats" could inject $330 billion into Bitcoin's market capitalization over the next five years. This corporate adoption wave represents a fundamental shift from Bitcoin as speculative investment to Bitcoin as treasury asset, creating sustained demand independent of retail sentiment.

The strategic insight is clear: Strategy's continued accumulation despite legal pressure signals extraordinary confidence in Bitcoin's role as corporate treasury asset. If this conviction proves justified, the company's current legal challenges may be viewed as minor obstacles overcome during Bitcoin's transition to mainstream corporate adoption. However, if Bitcoin fails to deliver expected returns, Strategy's leveraged approach could result in substantial losses that validate regulatory concerns about corporate cryptocurrency strategies.What I’m Reading - 1 Click Signup:

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