OpenAI Announces ChatGPT Teen Safety Features with Parental Controls and Age Prediction
Executive Summary
OpenAI is strengthening protections for teenage users on ChatGPT by developing a long-term age prediction system and launching new parental controls. The goal is to create a tailored, age-appropriate experience for users under 18, which will include stricter content policies and safety interventions. The parental controls, available by the end of the month, will allow parents to link accounts, manage features, set usage hours, and receive alerts regarding potential user distress.
Key Takeaways
* Age Prediction System: OpenAI is building a system to determine if a user is under 18. If age is uncertain, the platform will default to the more restrictive under-18 experience.
* Tailored Teen Experience: Users identified as under 18 will be directed to a version of ChatGPT with age-appropriate policies, including blocks on graphic sexual content.
* Parental Controls Launching Soon: New controls will be available by the end of the month, allowing parents to:
* Link their account to their teen's (minimum age 13).
* Disable features like memory and chat history.
* Set "blackout hours" when ChatGPT cannot be used.
* Distress Intervention: The system will notify parents if it detects a teen is in acute distress. In rare emergencies where a parent cannot be reached, law enforcement may be involved.
Strategic Importance
This announcement is a proactive move by OpenAI to address mounting safety concerns around AI's impact on minors, positioning the company as a responsible developer ahead of potential regulation.