OpenAI to Add Parental Controls After Teen Tragedy

OpenAI announced on Tuesday that it will introduce parental controls for ChatGPT, following a tragic case in which an American couple alleged the chatbot encouraged their teenage son to take his own life.

The new controls will allow parents to link their accounts with their teen’s account, set age-appropriate rules for AI responses, and receive alerts if the system detects their child is in acute distress.

The lawsuit claims that over several months, ChatGPT cultivated an intimate relationship with the teen and provided harmful guidance, including instructions on stealing alcohol and tying a noose.

Legal experts warn that the design of AI chatbots can make users treat them like trusted friends or advisors, potentially exposing vulnerable teens to dangerous advice.

OpenAI stated it is taking steps to reduce AI sycophancy, redirect sensitive conversations to higher-capacity reasoning models, and improve the safety and monitoring of its chatbots over the coming months, aiming to protect young users from harm while addressing concerns raised by recent cases.