With stricter protections: OpenAI launched a dedicated ChatGPT for teenagers
OpenAI has launched a version of ChatGPT tailored for minors, featuring parental controls and enhanced security measures to mitigate risks associated with AI-driven chatbots.
The artificial intelligence company OpenAI launched today (Tuesday) a version of ChatGPT adapted for minors, which includes parental controls and improved security features, against the backdrop of growing criticism of online platforms due to the risks associated with AI-based chatbots.
The new "ChatGPT for teens" mode will limit conversations on high-risk topics, such as self-harm, violence, and eating disorders, while simultaneously offering educational tools designed to help students learn instead of simply providing them with the answer, OpenAI stated in its blog post.
According to the report by Reuters, the mode will be activated automatically when the system estimates that the user is under 18, or when the user declares that their age is between 13 and 17. Parents will be able to set "quiet hours," manage certain settings, and receive notifications when teenagers discuss sensitive topics.
The move places the developer of ChatGPT alongside technology giants like Meta, which have strengthened protections for teenagers on their platforms in the face of growing legal threats and the accumulation of evidence of harm caused to their mental health. Pressure on technology companies has also increased following a global trend of countries promoting a ban on the use of social networks among teenagers, due to concerns about the damage caused to them.
For OpenAI, which is already facing several lawsuits alleging that ChatGPT caused harm to children, the challenge is even more complex because chatbots capable of conducting human-like conversations are increasingly perceived as people with whom one can share secrets and as a source of emotional support. Experts have warned that relying on automation for mental health advice carries dangers. Families of people who died, apparently after interactions with chatbots, have criticized the lack of sufficient protective measures. At the same time, the increasing use of artificial intelligence by students for completing assignments raises concerns about the damage the technology might cause to learning.
"We believe that artificial intelligence should expand educational opportunities, and that is why we designed ChatGPT for teens to support moments outside the classroom, where help is not always available," OpenAI stated.
The new mode includes educational tools, including a study mode for guided learning, homework reminders, quizzes, and visual illustrations. A study by the Pew Research Center published earlier this year found that searching for information and getting help with homework were the most common uses of artificial intelligence by teenagers in the USA, followed by uses for fun and entertainment.
OpenAI, which requires users to be at least 13 years old or meet the minimum age required in the country where they are located, stated that it will use a combination of self-reported age, behavioral signals, and account-related signals, alongside verification, to estimate the user's age. The company stated that when it is not sure of the user's age, it will activate the safer setting by default.
