OpenAI to update ChatGPT with parental controls

(CNN, KYMA/KECY) - OpenAI says parental controls are coming to ChatGPT "within the next month."

The announcement comes after the parents of a 16-year-old who killed himself filed a lawsuit against OpenAI. The suit alleges ChatGPT advised the teen on his suicide.

Last year, a Florida mother sued chatbot platform CharacterAI over its alleged role in her 14-year-old son's suicide.

Controls will include options for parents to link their account with their teens' and manage how ChatGPT responds to teen users.

In addition, conversations with signs of "acute stress" will route to a reasoning model that follows and applies safety guidelines more consistently.

OpenAI didn't directly tie its new parental controls to the recent suicide reports. However, last week, it noted what it called "recent heartbreaking cases" as a reason to share more detail about its safety approach.

The company said it's also working with experts in "youth development, mental health and human-computer interaction" to develop future safeguards.