• OpenAI is implementing age prediction technology for ChatGPT.
• Minors will receive tailored experiences with content safeguards.
• New parental controls will allow monitoring and restricting access.
• The changes come amid scrutiny after tragic incidents involving AI.
• OpenAI prioritizes safety for young users over other freedoms.

OpenAI has announced ambitious plans to enhance the safety of its chatbot, ChatGPT, by developing age prediction technology. This system aims to identify users under 18 years old and direct them to a specialized version of the chatbot that includes age-appropriate policies, which block graphic content and involve law enforcement when acute distress is detected. "Teens are growing up with AI, and it’s on us to make sure ChatGPT meets them where they are,” the company stated in a recent blog post, underlining the need for differentiated responses to users based on age, according to The Hill, Business Insider, and CBS News.

OpenAI CEO Sam Altman emphasized the company's commitment to prioritizing "safety ahead of privacy and freedom for teens," stating that robust measures are necessary to protect young users from potential dangers associated with AI technologies. The new age-detection features are expected to play a crucial role in ensuring that users who are underage will automatically interact with a safer version of ChatGPT, which is governed by specific content rules designed to prevent exposure to harmful material. Altman pointed out that if there's any uncertainty about a user's age, the system will default to the under-18 experience, according to Business Insider and CBS News.

In addition to the age prediction technology, OpenAI is introducing various parental controls, allowing parents to link their accounts to their teen's to manage engagement with the chatbot. These controls will enable parents to set blackout hours, monitor chat history, and receive alerts if their child encounters distress while using the chatbot. These measures are being introduced in light of concerns that AI interactions may have contributed to tragic events, as exemplified by a lawsuit filed by the family of 16-year-old Adam Raine, who allegedly received harmful guidance from ChatGPT before his death. This lawsuit has drawn significant media attention and increased scrutiny from regulatory bodies, including the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), according to The Hill and CBS News.