ChatGPT for Teens has special safeguards. A watchdog group finds most don't work

OpenAI launched ChatGPT for Teens in August, but a watchdog group that studied it recommends that people under 18 not use the artificial intelligence platform. Matt Cardy/Getty Images hide caption

ChatGPT for Teens has failed some of its first tests by researchers. Common Sense Media, a watchdog organization that advocates for online safety, researched safeguards rolled out by the artificial intelligence platform and found that the chatbot still presents problems for young people.

"At this point, we're recommending that teens don't use it," says Tom Siegel , executive director of the Youth AI Safety Institute at Common Sense Media. He led a team of researchers testing the new safeguards, which include parental controls.

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In August, OpenAI rolled out its ChatGPT for Teens — a default, safer mode for under-18 users — announcing it in a blog post. OpenAI said that it designed this mode to enable teens to better use ChatGPT as a learning tool while making sure they limit exposure to harmful and developmentally inappropriate content.

"ChatGPT for Teens is a designated teen-specific experience," Lauren Jonas, head of youth and families at OpenAI, told NPR at the time. That experience includes features like refusing role-playing.

"The model should not role-play with a teen," added Jonas. "The model should not claim to be sentient or be the friend of a teen."

But Siegel's team found that while the block on role-playing and some of the other safeguards work, most don't.