OpenAI just launched a safer version of ChatGPT for teens. Only took multiple lawsuits over teen suicides to get there.
TechCrunch broke down what's actually in the new ChatGPT for Teens release:
The Gap
ChatGPT first arrived in late 2022 and scaled to 900 million weekly users before meaningful safeguards designed specifically for teenage users were added.
Study Mode
Gives teens guiding questions and step-by-step support to help them understand material, instead of just handing over answers. The teen experience also includes homework reminders that appear when a teen appears to be trying to cheat, instead of understanding the material.
Parental Controls
Parents can use family tools to manage settings, receive safety notifications, and set Quiet Hours, among other things.
The Skepticism
Even the reporting on this isn't convinced it'll hold up. "It's unclear how difficult it will be to work around these safety measures in reality," especially since, as the piece notes, teens are "incredibly adept at working around parental controls."
The Bigger Question
The bigger question the article raises and doesn't fully answer: why weren't these protections part of ChatGPT from the beginning?