OpenAI has introduced ChatGPT for Teens, a version of its AI chatbot designed for users aged 13 to 17, with enhanced safety measures, educational tools and parental controls.
The company said the new experience will automatically apply when ChatGPT estimates that a user is under 18 or when a user identifies themselves as being between 13 and 17. The move comes as AI companies face growing scrutiny over the use of chatbots by young people and concerns about their potential impact on children.
OpenAI said ChatGPT for Teens is designed to encourage critical thinking and support teenagers with learning and everyday questions while encouraging them to seek support from people and resources in the real world.
The teen-focused version includes educational features such as Study Mode, which provides guided learning rather than simply giving answers, as well as quizzes, learning visualisations and tools for organising study time. OpenAI also said it is introducing reminders designed to discourage students from using the chatbot to bypass their school assignments.
Parents will be able to link their accounts to their teenagers’ accounts and manage certain settings. They can also activate Quiet Hours to limit when the teen can use ChatGPT and receive notifications in certain high-risk situations. OpenAI said these notifications will include additional situations involving concerns such as eating disorders.
The launch comes as increasingly lifelike AI chatbots are being used by some young people for advice, companionship and emotional support. Experts have warned that AI systems should not replace trusted adults or professional support, particularly when users are experiencing serious personal difficulties.
OpenAI said the new safeguards are intended to provide teenagers with useful AI assistance while keeping them engaged in active learning and maintaining stronger connections with parents, educators and the real world.-ERMD/TS
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