OpenAI has announced new measures to reinforce security of younger users in ChatGPT. The company, run by Sam Altman, will implement a system capable of automatically identifying whether a person is younger than 18 years old. In this case, stricter filters will be activated to block inappropriate content.
This change is an important step in OpenAI’s strategy to guarantee the interaction with artificial intelligence (AI) is safe, responsible, and adapted to the users’ age. It also reflects the company’s broader mission of creating AI that benefits society as a whole, where safety and transparency are always part of the design. With clear goals and careful planning, OpenAI underlines that protecting teenagers is a vital priority within its innovation roadmap.
With this update, OpenAI shows that growth and protection can go hand in hand, especially when young people are involved. So, let’s find out more about this new update.
An experience adapted according to age
Until now, ChatGPT users could personalize the way in which the AI answered them through the setup page. There, users can find personalized instructions, personality adjustment, and chat memory. So, with this update, OpenAI joins these controls in just one section, making it easier for users to modify their experience.
However, the big change comes with the automatic detection of age: if the systems determines a user is younger than 18, it will apply stricter safety policies by immediately blocking:
- Explicit sexual content.
- Sensitive information.
- Any responses that could pose risks to teenagers.
This way, OpenAI wants young people to make the most of the platform without being exposed to issues that aren’t appropriate for their age.
How will this update work?
When ChatGPT is not sure about the user’s age, it will immediately activate the minor’s experience. This decision is part of the ‘’first safety’’ principle.
For adults, there will be an age verification process that will allow them to have access to complete functions and content with no restrictions. With this double approach, OpenAI combines security for teenagers and flexibility for adults.
New controls for parents and tutors
From September, OpenAI will launch a set of additional tools for parents and tutors that will allow them to:
- Link a teenager’s account to that of a responsible adult.
- Set usage limits, including rest times or maximum chat sessions.
- Disable sensitive features, such as memory or chat history.
- Receive alerts if the system detects that the teenager is experiencing significant distress.
These features are designed to reassure parents that their children are interacting with technology in a controlled environment. By offering such options, OpenAI highlights that safety is not only about blocking harmful content but also about building trust between families and technology.
A step toward a safer AI
OpenAI’s strategy seeks to reinforce trust in technology, making sure that it can be used by adults and teenagers in a safe environment. The cm¡ompany points out that these measures block inappropriate content and reinforce transparency: adults know which adjustments are active and what limitations exist in minors’ accounts.
What’s more, the decision of automatically applying the restricted experience in case of doubt sends a clear message: young users’ protection is above any other consideration.
Basically
This age detection and security filters coming from OpenAI is showing the company’s commitment with a safe and responsible artificial intelligence, which also adapts to people and not the other way around.
Since we live in a technological world, many parents and people in charge of minors are very worried about the impact of technology in their lives. So, do you think this measure is necessary? We’ll see how this update will be received by ChatGPT users.