ChatGPT will introduce break reminders for teenage users

OpenAI has announced an update to ChatGPT aimed at teenage users, introducing new features focused on learning and digital well-being. Among the new additions are break reminders that appear when a teenager has been using the AI assistant for an extended period.

The company believes young people should have access to tools based on artificial intelligence, as they belong to the first generation that will grow up with this technology and use it throughout their academic and professional lives. According to OpenAI, delaying access until adulthood would be comparable to preventing previous generations from using the internet or search engines until they turned 18.

At the same time, the company stresses the importance of implementing protections specifically designed for younger users, allowing them to explore, learn and create in a safer environment.

One of the key features is Study Mode, which encourages deeper understanding by providing step-by-step explanations instead of simply delivering answers. While teenagers could already enable this feature manually, parents will now be able to manage it through parental controls.

Once enabled by a parent on a linked minor account, Study Mode will become the default setting and will automatically apply to every new conversation started by the teenager.

OpenAI has also expanded ChatGPT's interactive educational content with 250 new topics and a dedicated pronunciation practice mode covering more than 60 languages.

To promote healthier usage habits, the new break reminders do not interrupt access to ChatGPT but encourage teenagers to step away and take a pause after prolonged use.

These additions complement existing parental control features, including the ability to disable Voice Mode, manage access to image generation and receive alerts in certain high-risk situations, such as when the system detects possible signs of self-harm.