Common Sense Media's Youth AI Safety Institute published a 36-page assessment of ChatGPT for Teens, concluding the mode is unsafe for anyone under 18. Testing found some advertised safeguards worked, such as blocking explicit sexual roleplay, but others failed or worsened, including inconsistent parental safety alerts when teen accounts discussed suicide, self-harm or disordered eating. OpenAI says delays can occur shortly after accounts are linked and cites a possible technical issue, and noted that all flagged content is reviewed by staff before parents are notified.
Alvin Sng, a software engineer at startup Factory AI, posted on X that rather than reading a book aloud to his newborn himself, he offered to play an audiobook, then proposed training a voice model of himself to narrate it. He captioned the exchange 'Parenting hits different when you work in AI'; the post has since been deleted. The anecdote follows earlier comments from OpenAI's Sam Altman about using ChatGPT and AI-generated podcasts in place of everyday parent-child conversation.
Common Sense Media's report found that several safety features in OpenAI's ChatGPT for Teens, including alerts meant to flag suicide, self-harm or eating-disorder risks and support for teens in crisis, did not function as promised. The group said the chatbot still behaves like a personal confidant to teens despite OpenAI's claims it avoids suggesting feelings or consciousness, and called the product an 'unacceptable risk' to minors. OpenAI disputed the findings, saying the testing methodology doesn't reflect how its safeguards actually operate.
A CNET writer asked ChatGPT, Google Gemini and Claude AI to plan two full days of her life hour-by-hour, optimized for happiness. All three tools produced similar schedules: early wake-up times, structured breakfasts, work blocks, and multiple exercise sessions, but the writer found the results tedious and emotionally hollow rather than genuinely joyful.
OpenAI has begun deploying GPT-6 across all levels of ChatGPT, introducing a feature called Intelligent UI that enables more dynamic and visual responses. The upgrade allows the chatbot to include interactive elements such as charts, buttons, and forms within its replies, enhancing user engagement and understanding. The new model can generate responses while still processing, aiming to deliver faster and more cohesive interactions.
A report from Common Sense Media’s Youth AI Safety Institute revealed that ChatGPT for Teens often fails to notify parents during discussions about suicide, self-harm, or eating disorders. Tests showed that out of 450 prompts, parental notifications only triggered twice, and conversations could extend for hours without alerts. OpenAI acknowledged that notifications might take several hours to activate on new accounts.
A recent study by Common Sense Media found that OpenAI’s ChatGPT for Teens, launched less than two months ago, does not reliably alert parents about mental health crises or prevent teens from bypassing educational features. The research also revealed issues with age verification, allowing teens to register as adults without account adjustments. These shortcomings raise concerns about the platform’s safety and effectiveness for young users.
OpenAI has introduced new GPT-6 models, GPT-6 Sol for paid subscribers and GPT-6 Luna for free users, enhancing ChatGPT's capabilities. The update features an Intelligent UI that allows responses to include visuals, interactive elements, and dynamic tools tailored to the user's prompts. These improvements aim to make conversations more engaging and versatile, with ChatGPT able to generate interactive widgets and answer progressively as it processes information.
OpenAI introduced safety measures for teen users of ChatGPT in August, including content restrictions and parental notifications. Despite these efforts, recent research from Common Sense Media indicates that the safety features often fail, especially in detecting self-harm discussions, posing significant risks to teenage users. OpenAI reports limited average usage and positive responses to break reminders, but concerns about safety remain unaddressed.
OpenAI is launching a new user interface for ChatGPT that incorporates images, interactive graphics, and visual displays, powered by the GPT-6 model. This update will be accessible to free users later this week, with enhanced features for Plus and Pro subscribers starting Wednesday. The new interface aims to enrich responses by integrating visual elements based on online sources, allowing users to explore concepts interactively.
A recent report from Common Sense Media criticizes OpenAI’s ChatGPT for Teens, stating that its design still promotes engagement even during crisis situations, potentially risking user safety. The study highlights that while some protective measures like refusing sexual roleplay are effective, others are inadequate or worsen after the product's launch. OpenAI responded by questioning the report’s testing methods and claiming their safeguards are effective in practice.
OpenAI is rolling out a new ChatGPT interface called Intelligent UI alongside its GPT-6 model, which embeds interactive elements like tappable buttons, custom calculators, and editable charts into conversations rather than static text or images. Product manager Aarush Selvan demonstrated the feature generating diagrams on topics like airplane wing lift, bicycle mechanics, hiking routes, and savings calculations. OpenAI says the visual density can be adjusted by users who prefer a more text-based experience.
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