The ChatGPT staff has performed with the concept of an age-gating system for some time now, and eventually, it’s taking impact. This new characteristic will try to predict how outdated you might be, all in an try to guard younger customers.
“We’re rolling out age prediction on ChatGPT to assist decide when an account seemingly belongs to somebody beneath 18, so we are able to apply the best expertise and safeguards for teenagers,” the OpenAI account posted on X.
We’re rolling out age prediction on ChatGPT to help determine when an account likely belongs to someone under 18, so we can apply the right experience and safeguards for teens.Adults who are incorrectly placed in the teen experience can confirm their age in Settings > Account.…January 20, 2026
How does age prediction work?
Normally, companies use an age verification system for these types of situations. That is where a user has to provide some kind of ID to prove their age.
In this situation, ChatGPT attempts to guess the users age. It does this by looking at a combination of behavioural and account-level signals, including how long an account has existed.
These factors include the time of day the account is used most, usage patterns over time and a user’s stated age.
When the age prediction model estimates that an account may belong to someone under 18, ChatGPT automatically applies additional protections designed to reduce exposure to sensitive content. This includes:
- Graphic violence or gory content
- Viral challenges that could encourage risky or harmful behavior in minors
- Sexual, romantic or violent role play
- Depictions of self-harm
- Content that promotes extreme beauty standards, unhealthy dieting or body shaming
“This approach is guided by expert input and rooted in academic literature about the science of child development and acknowledges known teen differences in risk perception, impulse control, peer influence, and emotional regulation,” OpenAI stated in a blog post announcing this news.
“Whereas these content material restrictions assist cut back teenagers’ publicity to delicate materials, we’re targeted on regularly enhancing these protections, particularly to deal with makes an attempt to bypass our safeguards.”
Why is this happening?
Back in October, Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI, took to X to address users concerns with ChatGPT’s approach to mental health. In the post on X, he acknowledged that OpenAI could be introducing each an grownup mode and an age-gating system for ChatGPT.
The thought right here is two-fold. Firstly, it could finally permit ChatGPT to introduce its deliberate grownup mode, permitting for “erotica for verified adults”, in addition to different 18+ content material, and it could additionally restrict the possibly harmful results of chatbots on teenagers.
ChatGPT, in addition to different chatbots, has come beneath hearth for the possibly dangerous position it may play with beneath 18s. After a current controversy with Elon Musk’s Grok the place the chatbot was used to undress photographs of individuals with out their consent, international locations just like the UK at the moment are taking a look at methods to restrict younger individuals’s involvement with these instruments.
Whereas age-gating doesn’t utterly cease these issues, it does drastically restrict the variety of people who find themselves effected.
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