OpenAI announced on Tuesday the rollout of a teen-focused version of ChatGPT, designed specifically for users under 18, describing the new offering as a chatbot experience with "stronger built-in safety protections." The teen version builds on several features introduced over the past year, including a "Study Mode" intended to guide students through problem-solving step by step, as well as age prediction tools and a suite of parental controls.

The new youth experience includes educational tools such as homework reminders, quizzes, learning visualizations, and a "Study Time" feature that lets parents or teens set when Study Mode is active by default. OpenAI stated that the teen version also adds age-appropriate safety measures aimed at reducing exposure to content that may be developmentally inappropriate or harmful. In a release, OpenAI said that young people should be able to use AI to learn, create, and explore, but that such access should come with safeguards that reflect their developmental stage, reinforce real-world relationships, and support long-term healthy usage.

The launch of the teen ChatGPT experience comes as Meta Platforms, Inc. (META) prepares for a high-stakes trial over allegations that it fueled addictive behavior among teenagers and children. The case, which could expose the company to hundreds of billions of dollars in damages, stems from a 2023 lawsuit filed by 29 state attorneys general against the social media giant.

OpenAI itself is also facing scrutiny over its safety practices. In June, Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier filed a lawsuit against OpenAI and its CEO Sam Altman, accusing the company of releasing its product publicly despite knowing it was unsafe, thereby potentially harming users. Days later, reports indicated that a coalition of state attorneys general had opened an investigation into the company. At the time, OpenAI said in a statement that it planned to engage in "constructive dialogue" with those officials.

In September, the Federal Trade Commission launched inquiries into seven companies, including OpenAI and Meta, to examine the potential negative effects their AI chatbots could have on children and teens. OpenAI is also facing multiple wrongful death lawsuits alleging that ChatGPT led users to develop harmful delusions, and in some cases, triggered suicidal behavior.