OpenAI has begun implementing an age estimation system across ChatGPT personal accounts worldwide, a key measure to enhance protection for younger users.
The firm announced this development in mid-January 2026, building on months of safety upgrades amid regulatory pressures and public concerns over AI’s influence on children.
By analysing account duration, daily activity patterns, interaction histories, and declared ages, the tool identifies potential underage users and activates content filters to block sensitive material such as self-harm references.
This initiative responds to intense scrutiny, including a U.S. Federal Trade Commission investigation into AI chatbots’ effects on youth and OpenAI’s involvement in wrongful death lawsuits tied to teenage suicides.
Earlier efforts included parental controls launched last August and refined the following month, plus an October panel of eight experts advising on AI’s impact on mental health and motivation. OpenAI has committed to ongoing improvements in the model’s precision.
Users wrongly flagged as under 18 can swiftly regain full access via Persona, a verification service using selfies or ID documents that platforms like Roblox also employ.
The system is rolling out globally, with European Union activation planned within weeks “to account for regional requirements.”
Company leaders have teased an upcoming “adult mode” for verified grown-ups, promising unrestricted access to mature discussions by early 2026.