OpenAI CEO Sam Altman walks on the day of a gathering of the White House Task Force on Artificial Intelligence (AI) Education within the East Room on the White House in Washington, D.C., U.S., September 4, 2025.
Brian Snyder | Reuters
OpenAI on Tuesday announced it’s going to launch a devoted ChatGPT expertise with parental controls for customers below 18 years previous because the artificial intelligence firm works to improve security protections for youngsters.
When OpenAI identifies {that a} person is a minor, they’ll mechanically be directed to an age-appropriate ChatGPT expertise that blocks graphic and sexual content material and may contain legislation enforcement in uncommon instances of acute misery, the corporate mentioned.
OpenAI can be growing a know-how to higher predict a person’s age, however ChatGPT will default to the under-18 expertise if there’s uncertainty or incomplete data.
The startup’s security updates come after the Federal Trade Commission lately launched an inquiry into a number of tech firms, together with OpenAI, over how AI chatbots like ChatGPT doubtlessly negatively have an effect on kids and youngsters.
The company mentioned it needs to perceive what steps these firms have taken to “evaluate the safety of these chatbots when acting as companions,” in accordance to a launch.
OpenAI additionally shared how ChatGPT will deal with “sensitive situations” final month after a lawsuit from a household blamed the chatbot for their teenage son’s dying by suicide.
“We prioritize safety ahead of privacy and freedom for teens; this is a new and powerful technology, and we believe minors need significant protection,” OpenAI CEO Sam Altman wrote in a blog post on Tuesday.
In August, OpenAI mentioned it might launch parental controls to assist them perceive and form how their teens are utilizing ChatGPT. OpenAI shared extra particulars about these parental controls on Tuesday, and it mentioned they are going to be out there on the finish of the month.
The firm’s upcoming controls will enable dad and mom to hyperlink their ChatGPT account with their teen’s by way of electronic mail, set blackout hours for when their teen cannot use the chatbot, handle which options to disable, information how the chatbot responds and obtain notifications if the teenager is in acute misery.
ChatGPT is meant for customers who’re ages 13 and up, OpenAI mentioned.
“These are difficult decisions, but after talking with experts, this is what we think is best and want to be transparent in our intentions,” Altman wrote.
If you’re having suicidal ideas or are in misery, contact the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline at 988 for assist and help from a educated counselor
WATCH: FTC launches inquiry into AI chatbots acting as companions
