OpenAI Gives ChatGPT a Teen Mode With Stricter Safety Rules – Innovation Village

OpenAI is giving teenagers a more controlled way to use ChatGPT, introducing a dedicated experience designed for users between the ages of 13 and 17. The new “ChatGPT for Teens” comes with stronger safety protections, parental controls and learning-focused features as the company tries to make its AI chatbot safer for younger users.

The move comes as AI becomes increasingly popular among students for homework, research, writing, coding and everyday questions. However, the growing use of chatbots by young people has also raised concerns about inappropriate content, emotional dependence and the possibility of teenagers turning to AI for sensitive personal issues.

OpenAI says its teen experience is designed to address some of those concerns by applying stronger protections automatically. The company has developed age-aware systems that can estimate whether someone is under 18. When the system is uncertain about a user’s age, OpenAI says it will default to the safer under-18 experience.

For teenagers, that means ChatGPT will apply stricter boundaries around topics such as self-harm, dangerous activities, graphic violence, sexual content and eating disorders. The system is also designed to avoid encouraging secrecy or presenting itself as a replacement for real-world relationships and trusted adults.

Parents will also have more control over how their teenagers use the chatbot. OpenAI’s parental controls allow parents to link their account to their teen’s account and manage certain settings. They can also use features such as Quiet Hours to limit when ChatGPT can be used. Parents may receive safety-related notifications in serious situations, although they do not automatically receive access to their teenager’s private conversations.

There is also a strong education angle to the new…