OpenAI Launches ChatGPT for Teens With Added Safety Tools

OpenAI is launching ChatGPT for Teens with additional safety protections and learning features designed specifically for younger users, including Study Mode, homework reminders and parental controls.

The teen experience will apply age-appropriate protections by default to reduce exposure to harmful or developmentally inappropriate content. OpenAI says the safeguards are based on its Under-18 Principles in the Model Spec, which it says were informed by developmental science and expert guidance.

ChatGPT for Teens adds Study Mode

Education is a major part of the new experience. Study Mode is designed to guide students through problems with questions and step-by-step assistance rather than simply providing quick answers.

ChatGPT will also display homework reminders when it detects that a teen may be attempting to use the chatbot to complete work without understanding the material. In those situations, the service will encourage the student to switch to Study Mode.

Other learning features include quizzes and visualisations. Parents and guardians will have controls that can determine when Study Mode is enabled by default.

OpenAI expands safeguards for younger users

The launch follows growing scrutiny of how AI chatbots interact with minors, including lawsuits and concerns involving teen safety and mental health. ChatGPT originally launched in late 2022 and has since grown to 900 million weekly users, according to the source material.OpenAI’s existing family tools will also be available to parents and guardians. Those controls can be used to manage settings, establish Quiet Hours and receive certain safety notifications.

The effectiveness of the new restrictions will depend in part on how difficult they are for teens to bypass. OpenAI’s announcement describes the protections and parental controls, but their resilience to attempts to circumvent them has yet to be demonstrated through broader use.

OpenAI adds more education initiatives

OpenAI also announced a partnership with CodeAI aimed at helping teenagers learn how artificial intelligence works, including how to direct, question and use AI systems.

For schools, the company offers ChatGPT for Teachers separately, which provides institution-managed access to AI tools. Together with ChatGPT for Teens, the initiatives expand OpenAI’s efforts to shape how younger users interact with its technology both at home and in educational settings.