In the coming weeks, OpenAI will implement a new security layer in ChatGPT that fundamentally changes the way user identities are managed on the platform. The company is launching a dedicated predictive model to algorithmically estimate the age of chat users. The move is a clear response to increasing regulatory pressure and the need to create a ‘safe internet’ for the youngest, which is becoming a key part of the strategy to maintain trust in Generative AI technology.
The new system does not rely solely on user declarations. The model analyses a range of behavioural signals and account metadata, such as times of activity or specific patterns of interaction with the tool. If the algorithm classifies a user as under 18, it will automatically impose restrictive content settings. This ‘safety-first’ approach aims to minimise the risk of teenagers being exposed to material deemed harmful, including graphic violence, content promoting eating disorders, risky viral challenges or sexual role-play.
From a business and technology perspective, the most interesting element is the error verification mechanism, which brings an external partner into the OpenAI ecosystem. Users who are misclassified as minors will only be able to regain full access through biometric verification. OpenAI has integrated Persona’s services for this purpose, requiring the user to upload a selfie. This is a significant step towards the de-anonymisation of users in the name of security, which may raise debates in the context of privacy, but at the same time removes some of the legal responsibility from the model provider.
In addition to automation, OpenAI expands the parental control panel. Caregivers gain the ability to set quiet hours and monitor interactions for signs of psychological distress in a child. The implementation of these features signals to the market that OpenAI intends to anticipate regulation rather than react to it. The effectiveness of this behavioural model will be watched closely by competitors, likely setting a new compliance standard for the entire artificial intelligence industry.
