ChatGPT Launches Age Prediction to Protect Minors. What Do We Know?

Automatic Protection for Minors in ChatGPT

On January 20, 2026, OpenAI announced the global rollout of age prediction in ChatGPT. This technology is designed to help determine whether an account likely belongs to someone under the age of 18. The goal is to automatically apply additional safeguards for teenagers while allowing adults to use the tool according to their needs within safety guidelines.

Age prediction builds on protections that had already been introduced. Teenagers who state during registration that they are under 18 automatically receive additional safeguards that reduce their exposure to sensitive or potentially harmful content. As OpenAI stated in its announcement, young people deserve technology that expands opportunities while protecting their well-being.

How Does Age Prediction Work?

ChatGPT uses an age prediction model to estimate whether an account likely belongs to someone under the age of 18. The model analyzes a combination of behavioral patterns and account data. The factors considered include how long the account has existed, the typical times of day when the user is active, usage patterns over time, and the age provided by the user. Deploying age prediction helps OpenAI determine which signals improve accuracy, and the company uses these insights to continuously improve the model.

Users who are mistakenly placed in the under-18 experience always have a quick and easy way to confirm their age and restore full access. They simply need to take a selfie through Persona, which provides secure identity verification. Users can check at any time whether safeguards have been applied to their account and start this process in Settings > Account.

What Content Is Restricted for Minors

When the age prediction model estimates that an account may belong to someone under the age of 18, ChatGPT automatically applies additional safeguards designed to reduce exposure to sensitive content. Restricted content includes graphic violence or gore, viral challenges that could encourage risky or harmful behavior among minors, sexual, romantic, or violent role-playing, depictions of self-harm, and content promoting extreme beauty standards, unhealthy diets, or body shaming.

This approach is based on expert consultations and rooted in academic literature on child development science. It takes into account known differences among teenagers in risk perception, impulse control, peer influence, and emotional regulation. While these content restrictions help reduce minors’ exposure to sensitive material, OpenAI is focused on continuously improving these safeguards, particularly by addressing attempts to circumvent them. When the company is uncertain about someone’s age or has incomplete information, it defaults to the safer option.

Parental Controls and Rollout Plan

In addition to these safeguards, parents can further customize their child’s experience through parental controls. These include setting quiet hours when ChatGPT cannot be used, controlling features such as memory or model training, and receiving notifications if signs of acute distress are detected.

OpenAI is learning from the initial rollout and continues to improve the accuracy of age prediction over time. The company will closely monitor the rollout and use these signals to make ongoing improvements. In the European Union, age prediction will be introduced in the coming days to weeks to account for regional requirements. However, the rollout will take place gradually and may not appear for everyone at once. 

As OpenAI stated, this is an important milestone, but the work to support teen safety continues. The company will continue to share updates on its progress and findings through dialogue with experts, including the American Psychological Association, ConnectSafely, and the Global Physicians Network.

Context and Broader Implications

According to Reuters, OpenAI is introducing age prediction as it prepares to allow adult content in chat. Fidji Simo, OpenAI’s CEO of Applications, said in December that she expected an "adult mode" to debut in ChatGPT in the first quarter of 2026, following comments by CEO Sam Altman about allowing mature content for users who verify their age.

ChatGPT has 800 million weekly active users. OpenAI announced last week that it would begin showing ads in the chatbot to some users in the US, strengthening its efforts to generate revenue to fund the continued development of its models. Annualized revenue at Microsoft-backed OpenAI exceeded $20 billion (approximately CZK 460 billion) in 2025, up from $6 billion (about CZK 138 billion) in 2024, Chief Financial Officer Sarah Friar said on Sunday. The growth is closely linked to the expansion of computing capacity.