OpenAI Introduces Parental Controls for ChatGPT Following Teen Suicide Case

Parents will soon have the ability to establish quiet hours that restrict access during specific time periods.

OpenAI is introducing parental controls for ChatGPT across web and mobile platforms following a lawsuit filed by parents whose teenager died by suicide after allegedly receiving guidance on self-harm methods from the AI chatbot.

On Monday, the company announced that these controls will enable parents and teenagers to connect their accounts, implementing stronger protective measures for young users.

AI companies are facing increasing scrutiny from US regulators regarding potential negative impacts of chatbot interactions. Previously, Reuters reported that Meta's AI guidelines permitted flirtatious conversations with minors.

The newly implemented safeguards will allow parents to limit exposure to sensitive content, manage whether ChatGPT retains chat history, and determine if conversations can be utilized for training OpenAI's models, according to the Microsoft-backed company's announcement on X.

Additionally, parents will have options to establish quiet hours blocking access during certain times and disable features such as voice mode, image generation, and editing capabilities. OpenAI clarified that parents will not have access to their teen's conversation transcripts.

In exceptional situations where systems and trained reviewers detect indications of serious safety concerns, parents may receive notifications containing only essential information necessary to support their teen's wellbeing.

Meta also recently announced enhanced safeguards for teenagers using their AI products. The company stated it would train its systems to avoid engaging in flirtatious conversations or discussions about self-harm and suicide with minors, while temporarily restricting access to certain AI characters.