OpenAI said it has begun rolling out an age prediction system on ChatGPT consumer plans to determine whether an account likely belongs to someone under 18.
The company said the goal was to apply age-appropriate safeguards while preserving full access for adult users.
The system used a machine learning model that evaluated behavioral and account-level signals, including usage patterns, account age, activity timing, and stated age.
OpenAI said the model estimated age probabilistically rather than verifying identity by default.
When an account was flagged as potentially under 18, ChatGPT automatically applied additional protections to limit exposure to sensitive material.
These restrictions included content involving graphic violence, sexual or violent role play, self-harm depictions, and viral challenges that could encourage risky behavior.
OpenAI said users who were incorrectly classified could quickly restore full access by verifying their age through Persona, a third-party identity verification service, accessible through account settings.
Why This Matters Today
If you use ChatGPT, the rollout changed how safety controls were applied behind the scenes.
Instead of relying only on self-reported age, OpenAI added automated signals to reduce the risk of minors accessing inappropriate content.
The move reflected growing regulatory and public pressure on AI companies to implement stronger child and teen protections.
By defaulting to a safer experience when age confidence was low, OpenAI aimed to reduce harm while continuing to refine accuracy.
The approach also allowed OpenAI to separate teen safeguards from adult usage.
The company said this made it possible to maintain stricter protections for minors without broadly limiting features for all users.
Our Key Takeaways:
- OpenAI launched age prediction on ChatGPT to identify accounts that may belong to users under 18.
- Accounts flagged as underage automatically receive additional content and safety restrictions.
- Users can reverse incorrect classifications through a fast age verification process using Persona.
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