OpenAI tightens rules on sensitive queries amid teen concerns

OpenAI chief executive Sam Altman has broken his silence on recent concerns over ChatGPT’s impact on teenagers.

The artificial intelligence (AI) major has introduced teen-specific principles focussed on safety, freedom, and privacy, while imposing age restrictions on sensitive queries such as requests for suicide notes or mental health advice.

Altman said the ChatGPT maker will develop advanced security features to ensure the user data is private, including protection from OpenAI employees.


Additionally, safeguards to “potential serious misuse” and queries that are disruptive in nature, causing harm to someone’s life or society at large, would be escalated for human review.

On tackling flirtatious behaviour by the chatbot, Altman clarified that the freedom to use AI for varied use cases depends on the user. However, the model in itself won’t drive conversations that are unethical or too sensitive.

“The default behaviour of our model will not lead to much flirtatious talk, but if an adult user asks for it, they should get it,” the company said.