Introduction to New Parental Controls
Openai, the company that developed ChatGPT, announced new parental controls on Monday aimed at protecting young people who interact with their generative artificial intelligence program. All ChatGPT users will have access to the control functions from Monday, said the company.
Background and Motivation
The announcement is made as Openai enables users aged 13 and over to use ChatGPT, with the requirement that teenagers must receive parental consent before using the platform. In August, the technology company promised to implement changes in its flagship product after receiving a complaint from the parents of a 16-year-old who claimed that the chatbot had encouraged their son to consider self-harm.
Features of the New Controls
With the new controls from Openai, parents can link their own ChatGPT accounts with the accounts of their teenagers and adjust settings for a safe, age-appropriate experience. Certain types of content are then automatically restricted on the linked account of a teenager, including graphic, sexual, romantic, or violent "role-playing" and "extreme beauty ideals."
Content Moderation and Notification System
Together with content moderation, parents can choose to notify Openai if their child exhibits potential signs of self-harm while interacting with ChatGPT. If the systems recognize potential harm, a small team of specially trained people will review the situation. If there are signs of acute distress, Openai will contact parents by email, SMS, and push alert on their phone unless they have logged out.
Collaboration with Law Enforcement
The company also stated that it is working on the right circumstances and protocols to reach out to law enforcement agencies or other emergency services in emergencies where a teenager may be in direct danger and a parent cannot be reached.
Previous Measures and Limitations
Openai recently introduced other measures to protect younger ChatGPT users, including automatically directing users under 18 to a version regulated by "age-appropriate" content rules. However, the company noted that these guardrails are "not foolproof and can be circumvented if someone deliberately tries to avoid them." People can use ChatGPT without creating an account, and parental controls and automatic content limits only work if users are registered.
Future Improvements and Recommendations
The company stated that it will "iterate and improve thoughtfully over time." Openai recommends that parents talk to their teenagers about healthy AI use and what it looks like for their family. The Federal Trade Commission has started an investigation of several social media and artificial intelligence companies, including Openai, regarding the potential harm to young people and children who use their chatbots as companions.
