OpenAI introduces ID checks for ChatGPT amid lawsuit and Senate hearing

ChatGPT has entered the age-guessing game, among other measures, to avoid encouraging users to engage in dangerous practices.

The days when users simply Googled things are coming to an end, with artificial intelligence taking over. While it may seem to help users get answers to their questions more quickly and efficiently, it’s also proving to be a dangerous tool at times.

For this reason, OpenAI’s CEO, Sam Altman, has introduced new user polices, one of which is focused on protecting teenagers.

In his statement, the CEO shared that the company is “building an age-prediction system to estimate age based on how people use ChatGPT” to determine whether the user using the services is under 18 years old.

Altman also revealed that if the user’s age is unclear, the AI will “default to the under-18 experience.”

The chatbot may also ask users for ID in certain cases and countries.

The announcement also introduced the new rules that will be applied to ChatGPT’s teen users. It’s been reported that the chatbot will be trained not to engage in “flirtatious talk” if asked and not to discuss topics related to self-harm and suicide.

The company will also take further action if it notices that a user under 18 years old is expressing suicidal thoughts by contacting the user’s parents or authorities.

“We realize that these principles are in conflict and not everyone will agree with how we are resolving that conflict,” notes Altman.

“These are difficult decisions, but after talking with experts, this is what we think is best and want to be transparent in our intentions.”

At the beginning of September, the company introduced new measures that include parental controls for ChatGPT. The new feature allows parents to link their accounts with their kids, control how the chatbot responds to their queries, and more.

The company implements the new changes after it has been involved in multiple accidents that have resulted in users getting harmed.

This year, OpenAI and Sam Altman have been sued by the parents of a 16-year-old who took his own life after being coached by ChatGPT.

The need to make these changes stems not only from the lawsuits that the company faces, but potentially also from the US Senate, reports Reuters.

While it might seem that mostly a younger audience is prone to relying on the chatbot in extremely hard times, it’s not always the case.

OpenAI’s chatbot was also involved in a murder-suicide case when a 56-year-old man killed his mother and took his own life after ChatGPT helped increase his paranoia.

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