OpenAI Introduces Guardrails for Teen-Focused ChatGPT Amid Regulatory Pressure

OpenAI unveiled a restricted version of ChatGPT designed specifically for users under 18, responding to growing concerns about AI's impact on youth mental health. The San Francisco-based company will implement stricter age verification and parental controls, marking a strategic shift toward prioritizing safety over unfettered access.

CEO Sam Altman acknowledged inherent tensions in the approach: 'We prioritize safety ahead of privacy and freedom for teens. This is a new and powerful technology requiring significant protection for minors.' The system will automatically default to restricted mode when age verification proves uncertain.

Parental oversight features include account linking, usage monitoring, and distress alerts. The MOVE comes as global regulators intensify scrutiny of generative AI platforms, particularly their effects on developing minds during critical formative years.