What Happened

OpenAI and Anthropic announced new ways to detect underage users. ChatGPT's guidelines have been updated to include a new section on identifying and blocking users under 18. This is a significant step in protecting children from harmful content.

Why It Matters

This update will have a major impact on the safety of children who use ChatGPT. By preventing under-18s from accessing the platform, OpenAI and Anthropic can help to create a safer and more comfortable environment for everyone.

Context & Background

ChatGPT has become increasingly popular in recent years. It is a large language model, trained on a massive dataset of text and code. ChatGPT can be used for a variety of tasks, including language translation, question answering, and writing.

The platform has been praised for its ability to generate human-quality text, but there have also been concerns about its potential to be used for harmful purposes. For example, some users have created chatbots that are designed to be deceptive or persuasive.

What to Watch Next

The new detection system is expected to be effective immediately. However, it is important to note that this is a complex issue, and there are some challenges that need to be overcome before the system can be fully implemented.

One challenge is that ChatGPT is constantly learning and evolving. This means that the platform can sometimes generate text that is inconsistent with its stated guidelines. As a result, it can be difficult to accurately identify under-18s.

Another challenge is that there is no clear way to determine the intent of ChatGPT's generated text. This means that it can be difficult to distinguish between harmless and harmful content.

Despite these challenges, OpenAI and Anthropic are committed to working towards a safer future for everyone. The new detection system is a significant step in that direction, and it is expected to have a major impact on the safety of children who use ChatGPT.

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Source: The Verge – AI | Published: 2025-12-18