OpenAI set to roll out ‘Teen-Friendly’ ChatGPT with stronger safety features

OpenAI has announced a new “teen-friendly” version of ChatGPT, designed to address mounting concerns about the impact of AI chatbots on young users. The rollout, expected later this year, will include stricter safeguards and parental controls to ensure safe engagement for minors.

The Microsoft-backed company said ChatGPT will rely on age-prediction technology to detect users under 18. If age cannot be verified, the system will automatically switch to the under-18 experience. “We prioritise 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.

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The teen model will feature stronger content filters to block sexual content, flirtatious interactions, and discussions around self-harm, even in creative writing contexts. In acute cases where a teenager expresses suicidal thoughts, the system may notify parents or escalate to authorities.

Parents will also gain access to new tools including account linking for under-13 users, blackout hours to limit app usage, and controls to guide how ChatGPT responds. These features build on earlier parental controls announced in August.

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The move follows a lawsuit in the US alleging that ChatGPT contributed to a teenager’s death by suicide, intensifying calls for stricter safeguards. Altman acknowledged the challenge of balancing freedom with protection, noting that adults should retain broader autonomy while minors require tighter guardrails.

By partnering with experts, policymakers, and advocacy groups, OpenAI hopes its teen-focused safeguards will set new standards for responsible AI use while addressing one of the most pressing debates in the industry of the safety of young users.