{
  "id": 12890859,
  "title": "OpenAI’s ChatGPT for Teens poses an ‘unacceptable risk’ to kids, says watchdog",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/08/openais-chatgpt-for-teens-poses-an-unacceptable-risk-to-kids-says",
  "topic": "ai",
  "section": "AI",
  "published": "2026-10-08T14:45:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Fast Company",
    "slug": "fast-company",
    "url": "https://www.fastcompany.com/91620701/openais-chatgpt-teens-poses-unacceptable-risk-kids-says-watchdog"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Common Sense Media, a watchdog group, has criticized OpenAI's new ChatGPT for Teens product, stating that the guardrails included in the chatbot do not function correctly and therefore pose an \"unacceptable risk\" to children. The group has called for OpenAI to restrict the chatbot to adults until it can provide a safe, age-appropriate experience. OpenAI dismissed the watchdog's testing as not accurately reflecting how the chatbot's safeguards are working. The report highlights concerns about children's vulnerability to AI chatbots, particularly teenagers whose brains are still developing. Despite this, the report acknowledges that some of the teen-mode features, such as ChatGPT's refusal of explicit sexual role-play, function as intended. However, other features, including alerts meant to notify parents of potential risks to a child's mental health, have not worked as advertised, and the chatbot continues to behave as if it has personal feelings and emotions. OpenAI maintains its commitment to teen safety and claims that their review of the report's methodology reveals that the findings are inaccurate due to the report's incomplete testing timeline.",
  "summary": "Some of the guardrails that OpenAI included in its ChatGPT for Teens product don’t work as intended and the chatbot poses an “unacceptable risk” to children, according to a report Wednesday by Common Sense Media. The watchdog group urged OpenAI to restrict the chatbot to adults “until it can offer a safe, developmentally appropriate experience.” OpenAI said the group’s testing doesn’t reflect how…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 8,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "New Voice of Ukraine",
        "title": "Russia leaned on ChatGPT to run global anti-Ukraine campaign, OpenAI says",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/08/russia-leaned-on-chatgpt-to-run-global-anti-ukraine-campaign-openai",
        "published": "2026-10-08T18:28:00.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "The Hill",
        "title": "OpenAI users in Russia, Iran used models to push political agenda online, in media",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/08/openai-users-in-russia-iran-used-models-to-push-political-agenda",
        "published": "2026-10-08T23:26:23.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Al-Monitor",
        "title": "OpenAI says Iran, Russia influence ops busted",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/08/openai-says-iran-russia-influence-ops-busted",
        "published": "2026-10-08T23:30:24.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "New Straits Times",
        "title": "OpenAI says Iran, Russia influence ops busted",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/08/openai-says-iran-russia-influence-ops-busted-12986310",
        "published": "2026-10-08T23:42:19.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "France 24",
        "title": "OpenAI bans Russian, Iranian ChatGPT propaganda networks",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/08/openai-bans-russian-iranian-chatgpt-propaganda-networks",
        "published": "2026-10-08T23:42:32.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Free Malaysia Today",
        "title": "OpenAI says Iran, Russia influence ops busted",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/08/openai-says-iran-russia-influence-ops-busted-12986525",
        "published": "2026-10-08T23:51:00.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "NPR",
        "title": "OpenAI caught Russians and Iranians using ChatGPT for influence campaigns",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/09/openai-caught-russians-and-iranians-using-chatgpt-for-influence",
        "published": "2026-10-09T00:25:15.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}