OpenAI Launches 'ChatGPT For Teens' With Stronger Safeguards Amid Legal Pressure
OpenAI on Tuesday introduced a version of its ChatGPT chatbot designed specifically for teenagers, adding stronger safeguards and monitoring as the company faces criticism and legal complaints over alleged harms involving some users. Called “ChatGPT for Teens”, the modified parameters are automatically deployed for users who register as being aged 13 to 17 or whom the company detects as underage…
OpenAI unveiled a specialized version of its ChatGPT chatbot for teenagers on Tuesday, introducing enhanced safety measures and monitoring as the company contends with criticism and legal complaints surrounding alleged harms to some users. The new "ChatGPT for Teens" is automatically activated for users aged 13 to 17 or those detected as underage by the company based on usage patterns or account duration.
Several safety features already in place for minors' ChatGPT accounts, such as restrictions on content related to self-harm, violence, eating disorders, and explicit sexuality, are expanded in the teen-specific version. Additional safeguards include more frequent break reminders, "quiet hours" to limit usage, and a Study Mode that encourages teens to engage with material through guiding questions rather than direct answers.
The chatbot is also barred from suggesting personal feelings towards users or claiming consciousness. Some features, including voice mode, are disabled. Parents can link their accounts to their teens' and receive alerts if conversations involve high-risk situations like self-harm or suicide. Human moderators review these alerts, with specific details from chat logs removed to protect user privacy.
The introduction of the teen mode occurs as OpenAI faces heightened legal and regulatory scrutiny. The company is embroiled in wrongful death lawsuits, including one by the parents of 16-year-old Adam Raine, who allegedly committed suicide after following advice from ChatGPT. The U.S. Federal Trade Commission is also probing AI chatbots designed as digital companions, focusing on potential risks to children and teens.
Similar to social media platforms, AI firms are encountering mounting regulatory pressure. U.S. Congress has proposed several bills to regulate chatbots, while California mandates safeguards for assistants acting as companions or confidants. Other AI companies, like Anthropic, have also restricted usage of their models to adults due to concerns over minors' engagement.
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