OpenAI says teens use ChatGPT for under 15 minutes a day as worries over risks grow

In a recent report, OpenAI revealed that teenagers use ChatGPT for an average of under 15 minutes daily and that less than 2% of users engage with the chatbot for more than three hours consecutively. This data comes as technology companies face increasing scrutiny over the potential risks AI chatbots pose to the mental health and development of children.

OpenAI's report, released on Wednesday, aimed to address concerns about the impact of such platforms on adolescent mental health and developmental safety. The company pointed out that in nearly half of the teen conversations where a break reminder appeared, users either took a break or ended the chat within five minutes, suggesting that their regulatory measures are working.

The report also highlighted that users with access to the dedicated teen version of ChatGPT sent more education-related messages and utilized tools like learning visualizations and Study Mode. OpenAI is now exploring the addition of a college application planning tool, as well as new study features such as flashcards and more straightforward quiz-making options.

However, a separate report by non-profit Common Sense Media raised concerns about the effectiveness of ChatGPT's teen safeguards. The study, based on over a dozen accounts created for testing, found that the chatbot often failed to alert parents promptly when teens engaged in conversations about suicide, self-harm, or eating disorders. The report indicated that notifications only came through for accounts with weeks of sensitive-topic history, and not in timely fashion for accounts established more recently.

OpenAI responded to these findings, stating that the Common Sense Media testing did not accurately reflect how their teen safeguards function. They cited security and scalability as reasons for potential delays in parent and teen account linking and the activation of safety alerts. The company also mentioned that the bulk of their testing may have begun and concluded before the activation of parental controls was complete.