OpenAI announced a suite of new safety features for ChatGPT, including parental controls set to launch within the next month, in response to growing concerns about the AI’s impact on teen mental health. The decision follows high-profile lawsuits, notably one filed by the parents of 16-year-old Adam Raine, who died by suicide after discussing his plans with ChatGPT. The lawsuit alleges the AI failed to redirect him to human support and even offered harmful suggestions. This, alongside reports of users forming unhealthy emotional attachments to the chatbot, has intensified scrutiny on OpenAI, which serves 700 million weekly active users.
The new parental controls, aimed at users aged 13 and up, allow parents to link their accounts with their teen’s, enabling oversight of interactions. Parents can set age-appropriate response rules, disable features like memory and chat history, and receive real-time alerts if the system detects “a moment of acute distress.” OpenAI is also introducing one-click access to emergency services and exploring therapist connections. To address the issue of safeguards weakening during long conversations, OpenAI will route sensitive interactions to its GPT-5 reasoning model within 120 days. This model, designed to process context more thoroughly, adheres better to safety protocols, aiming to de-escalate crises by grounding users in reality.
OpenAI’s existing safeguards, such as directing users to crisis helplines, have proven less effective in prolonged exchanges, where safety training can degrade. The company is collaborating with over 250 clinicians and experts in youth development, mental health, and human-computer interaction to refine these measures. However, critics like Jay Edelson, the Raine family’s lawyer, argue the updates are insufficient, calling for ChatGPT’s removal if safety isn’t guaranteed. Robbie Torney of Common Sense Media labeled the controls a “Band-Aid,” noting they’re hard to set up and easy for teens to bypass.
Posts on X reflect mixed sentiment: some praise the proactive steps, while others question their effectiveness, citing past failures and the challenge of monitoring AI interactions. OpenAI’s efforts come amid broader regulatory pressure, with U.S. senators demanding transparency on safety practices in July. As AI chatbots like Character.AI face similar lawsuits, OpenAI’s 120-day plan to bolster safeguards signals a critical step toward balancing innovation with responsibility, though skepticism persists about its ability to prevent future tragedies.
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