OpenAI launches 'ChatGPT for Teens' with enhanced safety rules and study features

San Francisco: OpenAI has introduced ChatGPT for Teens, a specialized version of its AI model aimed at users aged 13 to 17, as artificial intelligence becomes an increasingly common tool for coursework, daily inquiries, and social interaction among adolescents.

The San Francisco-based AI firm announced the launch on Tuesday, stating the platform incorporates enhanced safety protocols to limit exposure to sensitive subjects, including self-harm, suicide, and sexual or romantic content. Rather than generating direct answers or drafting essays, the system is configured to assist students with their studies through interactive learning.

The initiative aims to encourage responsible AI engagement tailored to adolescent development.

"We want to treat teens like teens, which means that we have to make sure that we're showing up with the right developmental stage when we're not either talking down to them or treating them like kids, but we're also making sure that they're not exposed to material that they shouldn't be exposed to," said Ann O'Leary, vice president of global policy at OpenAI.

Addressing risks and overreliance

The release arrives amid growing concern from child development specialists, educators, and parents regarding the impact of AI chatbots on youth, ranging from academic dishonesty to severe mental health issues. Due to ongoing brain development, teenagers remain especially susceptible to anthropomorphizing conversational AI and forming unhealthy emotional attachments.

A 2024 investigation by a watchdog organization demonstrated that standard AI models, when prompted by researchers posing as 13-year-olds, provided actionable guidance on topics such as substance abuse, concealing eating disorders, and drafting suicide notes. While the system offered initial disclaimers, it nonetheless generated detailed plans for high-risk behaviors.

Additionally, a 2025 study by Common Sense Media indicated that over 70 percent of teenagers utilize AI chatbots for companionship, with half engaging with them on a regular basis. OpenAI CEO Sam Altman previously acknowledged the need to evaluate "emotional overreliance" among young users, identifying it as a "really common thing."

To mitigate these risks, ChatGPT for Teens includes restrictions that prevent the system from claiming consciousness, expressing personal feelings, or engaging in romantic dialogue.

"We went through and identified what are the hypothetical cues that a model could give that might make a teenager kind of develop a relationship to it," said Allison Mishkin, head of child development at OpenAI.

Age determination and parental tools

OpenAI uses age-assurance mechanisms to infer whether a user is under 18 based on prompt patterns and behavioral signals rather than mandatory age verification. Minor users are automatically assigned to the teen environment, mirroring safeguards implemented across platforms like Meta's Instagram Teen Accounts.

Parental supervision features require mutual opt-in from both the teenager and their guardian. However, O'Leary emphasized the objective was to "make sure that this is safe, even if you don't use parental controls."

Linked accounts allow parents to establish "quiet hours" restricting access, alongside alerts for critical safety situations, including self-harm concerns.

"We are adding additional notifications related to eating disorders, while limiting what is shared and focusing on moments when offline support may matter most," OpenAI said.

In educational contexts, the system aims to scaffold learning rather than complete assignments for students, aligning with OpenAI's broader expansion into classroom tools.

"We continue to also invest in expanding interactive learning because research shows that people learn more effectively when they actively engage and struggle with concepts," Mishkin said. (AP)