OpenAI Introduces New Safety Measures for ChatGPT Users Under 18

OpenAI has announced a series of new safety measures for its ChatGPT platform, specifically targeting users under the age of 18. The company is implementing an age-prediction system to automatically segment users by age, ensuring that interactions with minors are appropriately restricted.

The new policies include disabling flirtatious interactions and restricting discussions on sensitive topics such as suicide and self-harm for users under 18. In cases where there is uncertainty about a user's age, the system will default to the more restrictive under-18 experience. Additionally, OpenAI plans to introduce ID verification in certain countries to further ensure compliance with these age restrictions.

Parents will have the ability to link their accounts with their children's accounts, allowing them to set blackout hours and receive notifications if their child is detected to be in distress. These parental controls are expected to be available by the end of September 2025.

These changes come amid heightened scrutiny of AI chatbots and their impact on younger users, following incidents where chatbots have been implicated in harmful situations. OpenAI's new measures aim to enhance safety while balancing user privacy and freedom.