Tags: Open Ai

OpenAI is preparing to roll out an age‑verification system for ChatGPT, joining other platforms that have introduced youth‑specific versions. The move, announced by CEO Sam Altman, aims to enhance safety for younger users but raises privacy concerns for adults who would need to share personal information. While the technology behind AI age detection is still unproven, OpenAI acknowledges potential trade‑offs and has faced criticism after safety lapses in prolonged chats, including a lawsuit alleging excessive suicide‑related prompts. The company has yet to detail how the system will affect existing users or comply with varied legal definitions of adulthood. Read more

OpenAI announced a new version of ChatGPT designed specifically for users under 18. The teen‑focused experience includes age‑prediction technology that directs younger users away from the standard model, stricter content filters that block flirtatious or self‑harm discussions, and built‑in crisis response that can alert parents or authorities. Parental controls let adults link accounts, set response rules, and enforce blackout periods. The rollout follows heightened scrutiny from lawmakers and recent lawsuits alleging AI‑related harms to minors, positioning the teen mode as a proactive safety measure. Read more

OpenAI released its biggest‑ever survey of ChatGPT users, uncovering how the AI chatbot is adopted worldwide. Conducted by OpenAI’s Economic Research team with Harvard economist David Deming for the National Bureau of Economic Research, the study reveals that 70% of interactions occur outside of work, the gender gap among users has narrowed, and adoption is accelerating faster in low‑income nations. Users primarily turn to ChatGPT for practical guidance, information, and writing, with nearly half of queries classified as “Asking,” 40% as “Doing,” and 11% as “Expressing.” The findings suggest AI is becoming a routine part of everyday life. Read more

OpenAI announced plans to automatically identify teen users of ChatGPT and limit their access following the suicide of a 16‑year‑old who allegedly used the tool to plan his death. The company said the new system will apply age‑appropriate policies, block graphic sexual content, and, in cases of acute distress, enable contact with law enforcement. When age cannot be determined, users will default to a gated experience, with adults able to verify their age to unlock full capabilities. OpenAI also outlined upcoming parental controls, including usage‑time limits, and shared a letter from CEO Sam Altman emphasizing safety over privacy for minors. Read more

OpenAI CEO Sam Altman revealed a set of new policies aimed at protecting users under the age of 18. The changes prohibit flirtatious conversations with minors, tighten guardrails around discussions of self‑harm, and introduce mechanisms to alert parents or authorities if a teen appears suicidal. The move comes amid a wrongful‑death lawsuit linked to a teen’s suicide after interacting with ChatGPT, a similar suit against Character.AI, and a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on the harms of AI chatbots. OpenAI also outlined plans for age‑verification tools and parental controls while reaffirming its commitment to adult privacy. Read more

Microsoft is rolling out an automatic AI model‑selection feature for Visual Studio Code that favors Anthropic’s Claude Sonnet 4 over OpenAI’s GPT‑5, especially for paid GitHub Copilot users. Internal guidance from developer division head Julia Liuson cites benchmark results recommending Claude Sonnet 4. At the same time, the company is investing heavily in its own AI training infrastructure and planning to integrate Anthropic models into Microsoft 365 Copilot, while a new partnership deal with OpenAI eases cloud‑provider restrictions and hints at future financial arrangements. Read more

Researchers at the University of Colorado at Boulder tested popular large language models, including OpenAI's ChatGPT and its reasoning variants, on Sudoku puzzles and their ability to explain solutions. The models struggled with both 6x6 and 9x9 puzzles, often resorting to trial‑and‑error and producing inaccurate explanations. In some cases, the models gave unrelated answers, such as a weather forecast. The findings raise concerns about AI transparency, especially as the technology moves into high‑stakes domains like driving, tax preparation, and business decision‑making. The study also notes a pending Ziff Davis lawsuit against OpenAI over training data. Read more

A new research paper by OpenAI and academic partners reveals that ChatGPT, once promoted as a productivity assistant, is increasingly being used for personal purposes. While weekly active users remain high, the proportion of work‑related conversations has fallen from roughly half to just over a quarter. The study highlights changing patterns in how users ask questions, with a rise in information‑seeking queries and a diversification of the user base across gender, age and geography. Read more

OpenAI’s analysis of over a million ChatGPT conversations shows that writing assistance dominates usage, especially for work‑related tasks, while information‑seeking and decision‑making are fast‑growing functions. Users frequently request edits, critiques, and translations, and a sizable share turn to the model for business advice. Smaller but notable segments employ the AI for multimedia, programming, creative ideation, calculations, and even gaming. The data highlights ChatGPT’s role as a versatile assistant rather than a simple task executor. Read more

A recent personal experiment shows how ChatGPT’s new AI Agent mode can research and suggest budget‑friendly fall activities. The user, based in Montclair, NJ, asked the Agent to find free or low‑cost outings such as hikes, small‑town trips, and seasonal events. The AI returned options like a local jazz festival, a nearby hike, and even a suggestion to watch the New York Marathon. The experience highlights the tool’s ability to browse the web in real time, while also noting the need for users to verify sources and tailor prompts for the best results. Read more

Discussions about providing every citizen with free access to ChatGPT Plus have sparked a broader debate on the role of AI in society. Proponents argue that universal access could boost productivity, bridge the digital divide, and democratize powerful tools. Critics warn of potential dependence, misinformation, bias, and the implications of endorsing a single private company's technology as a public utility. The conversation underscores the need for digital literacy, safeguards, and consideration of open‑source alternatives as policymakers weigh the promise of AI against its possible hazards. Read more

The California state senate gave final approval to SB 53, a major AI safety bill that imposes new transparency requirements on large AI labs, establishes whistleblower protections, and creates a public cloud to expand compute access. The legislation now moves to Governor Gavin Newsom for signing or veto. While some tech firms and venture groups have opposed the bill, others like Anthropic support it as a solid governance blueprint. The bill differentiates reporting obligations based on a $500 million revenue threshold, and has drawn criticism from industry leaders who warn of constitutional and commerce concerns. Read more

St. Charles and St. Louis have each placed a one-year moratorium on new data‑center construction as local officials and residents push back against the rapid expansion of facilities needed for generative AI. Officials cite concerns over water usage, electricity demand, land consumption and the lack of clear regulations. The actions reflect growing community resistance and a desire for more thoughtful land‑use policies before further projects are approved. Read more

In a televised interview, Tucker Carlson pressed OpenAI chief Sam Altman about claims that an OpenAI employee was murdered on Altman's orders. Carlson cited details suggesting a struggle and a lack of suicidal indicators, while Altman said he had not spoken with authorities and offered to speak with the employee's mother, who declined. The exchange highlighted ongoing concerns and speculation surrounding the incident. Read more

A developer has created a mod that injects large‑language‑model generated dialogue into the GameCube version of Animal Crossing. By monitoring memory for conversation triggers and inserting placeholder text, the mod races to fetch AI responses and format them using the game's encoded text system. The solution splits the workload between a Writer AI, which crafts character‑specific lines, and a Director AI, which adds the necessary control codes for color, emotion, and sound. The tool runs on Python, requires API keys for Google Gemini or OpenAI, and works with the Dolphin emulator on macOS, though it contains known bugs. Read more

OpenAI announced a nonbinding memorandum of understanding with Microsoft that would allow the AI startup to convert its for‑profit arm into a public benefit corporation. The deal keeps OpenAI’s nonprofit board in control while granting Microsoft preferred access to the technology and primary cloud services. The agreement follows months of negotiation, legal disputes, and competing partnership offers, including a cloud contract with Oracle and a data‑center collaboration with SoftBank. Regulators in California and Delaware must still approve the transition, and the arrangement remains subject to a definitive contract. Read more

The Federal Trade Commission has opened an inquiry into the AI chatbots offered by seven major technology companies, seeking to understand how they test, monitor and mitigate potential harms to minors. A Common Sense Media survey shows that more than 70% of teens use AI companions, with over half using them regularly. Experts warn that chatbots can give dangerous advice and fail to recognize concerning language. Companies such as Character.ai, Instagram and Snap say they have added safety features, while the FTC is demanding detailed disclosures on everything from monetization to age‑based safeguards. Read more

OpenAI has reportedly pledged $300 billion to Oracle over a five‑year period to secure up to 4.5 gigawatts of power for new data‑center capacity, a deal announced by major newspapers and slated to begin in 2027. The agreement, part of OpenAI’s broader push to diversify beyond Microsoft Azure, ties into the company’s Stargate Project, a multi‑billion‑dollar effort to build AI infrastructure with partners including Oracle, Microsoft, Nvidia and Softbank. The deal reflects soaring demand for generative‑AI compute, with U.S. data‑center numbers having nearly doubled since 2021 and power consumption expected to double again by 2035. Read more

In a recent Engadget podcast, managing editor Cherlynn Low and senior reporter Karissa Bell sit down with The Verge's Allison Johnson to discuss the upcoming iPhone Air, iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17. The hosts also field questions from Threads, share hopes for the next Apple event, and critique recent tech news, including an AI podcasting startup, OpenAI‑driven CGI film "Critterz," and Inception Point AI's plan for massive virtual‑host podcast production. The episode features commentary from Devindra Hardawar, producer Ben Ellman, and a brief take on HBO Max pricing from David Zaslav. Read more

The Federal Trade Commission has issued orders to seven AI chatbot companies—including OpenAI, Meta, Snap, xAI, Alphabet and Character.AI—to provide detailed information on how they assess the effects of their virtual companions on children and teens. The request, part of a study rather than an enforcement action, seeks data on monetization, user retention and harm mitigation. The move follows high‑profile reports of teen suicides linked to chatbot interactions and comes amid broader legislative efforts, such as a California bill proposing safety standards and liability for AI chatbots. Read more