OpenAI has announced plans to introduce a dedicated ChatGPT experience for users under 18, incorporating robust parental controls and safety measures to protect teenagers from harmful content. The company stated that when it identifies a user as a minor, the platform will automatically direct them to an age-appropriate version of ChatGPT. This experience will block graphic and sexual content and, in rare cases involving acute distress, may involve law enforcement to ensure safety.
To better tailor this experience, OpenAI is developing technology to more accurately estimate users’ ages. In cases where age is uncertain or information is incomplete, the chatbot will default to the under-18 experience. This update comes amid growing scrutiny over AI chatbots and their potential effects on children and teenagers, with the Federal Trade Commission recently launching an inquiry into several tech companies, including OpenAI, to assess the safety of AI systems acting as companions.
OpenAI has also taken steps to clarify how ChatGPT handles sensitive situations following a lawsuit related to a teenager’s death by suicide. The company emphasized that the safety of minors will be prioritized over privacy and unrestricted access. OpenAI CEO Sam Altman stated that, due to the power and novelty of AI technology, significant protections are necessary for underage users.
In addition to age-specific access, OpenAI is rolling out parental controls to give guardians greater oversight of their teen’s use of ChatGPT. Scheduled for release at the end of the month, these controls will allow parents to link their account with their child’s, establish blackout hours to limit access, manage which features are enabled, guide the chatbot’s responses, and receive notifications if the teen is in a state of acute distress. These measures are intended to help parents actively shape safe and responsible use of the AI.
The new features reflect OpenAI’s ongoing commitment to enhancing teen safety while maintaining transparency about the technology’s risks and benefits. By implementing age-appropriate experiences and providing detailed parental controls, OpenAI seeks to balance innovation with responsibility, acknowledging the complex challenges posed by AI interactions for younger users. ChatGPT remains available to users ages 13 and older, and OpenAI continues to engage with experts to determine the safest and most effective ways to protect minors while allowing them to benefit from AI technology.
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