In the latest announcement, OpenAI has introduced a series of measures aimed at creating a safer experience for young users. These new measures will allow parents to link their children's ChatGPT accounts, control how the system responds to them in an age-appropriate way, and manage features that need to be disabled, such as memory and chat history.

ChatGPT

Image source note: The image is AI-generated, and the image licensing service is Midjourney

OpenAI CEO Sam Altman stated in a blog post: "We prioritize the safety of young people over privacy and freedom. This technology is very powerful, and we believe minors need significant protection."

Parents will also receive notifications when the system detects extreme emotional distress in a minor. OpenAI said this feature will be guided by experts. If a user under 18 shows suicidal thoughts, OpenAI will try to contact the user's parents; if they cannot be reached, it will contact the relevant authorities to prevent possible harm. Altman emphasized, "We want to ensure the safety of our young users."

Additionally, parents can set "block times" for using ChatGPT, which will prohibit minors from using the service during specific hours. OpenAI also revealed that it is developing a new technology aimed at accurately predicting users' ages. Altman mentioned, "Even the most advanced systems may face difficulties in this area. If there are doubts, we will take conservative measures and default to the experience for users under 18. In some cases or countries, we may also require identity verification. We know this is a compromise for adults' privacy, but we believe it is worth the trade-off."

Although OpenAI acknowledges that not everyone agrees with its approach to balancing the protection of minors and privacy, Altman said these are difficult decisions. He added, "After discussing with experts, we believe this is the best solution, and we hope to transparently express our intentions."

Key points:

🌟 OpenAI introduces youth safety measures, allowing parents to control the use of their children's ChatGPT accounts.  

👨‍👧 Parents will receive notifications when the system detects extreme emotional distress in minors to ensure safety.  

🔒 Developing user age prediction technology to ensure minors default to the safe experience for those under 18.