OpenAI is introducing ChatGPT for Teens which is set to have different features to help teens learn with better build-in safety protections.

These protections aim to promote healthy use by teens and offers additional controls for parents.

OpenAI says its system will automatically put someone who declares that they are under 18 into the Teen setting, or if the system estimates that someone is under 18. It does not specify how it will determine children’s ages. Children under the age of 13 are not allowed to use the service, though OpenAI has not been specific on how this is regulated.

The Teen service builds on Study Mode, released last year, which will help students with their homework without just giving them the answer.

Teens and parents can set default Study Hours, where Study Mode will be on by default.

The Teen mode will also have homework reminders, quizzes and learning visualisations.

ChatGPT for Teens will also introduce further safeguards for teen users based on OpenAI’s Under-18 Principles.

Part of these safeguards includes notifications to parents if a teen is discussing harmful or concerning issues with a chatbot. OpenAI has expanded this to include discussions surrounding eating disorders.

Other features are meant to re-inforce healthy, real-world relationships, something that an AI chatbot cannot offer and should not replace.

ChatGPT should not sure romantic language, encourage emotional dependence, or imply it has feelings or consciousness, OpenAI said.

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It will also add protection cues for teens, reminding them against sharing private or sensitive images, having teen-specific onboarding to reference safety features available, and customisation options to make the experience personal without blurring lines.

OpenAI says it will continue its ongoing research into safe use of AI by teens, with new under 18s evaluations it is beginning to share publicly.

“Teens should be able to use AI to learn, create, and explore. But that access should come with protections that reflect their developmental stage, reinforce real-world relationships, and support healthy use over time,” OpenAI said.