A former OpenAI researcher has left the company after the introduction of advertisements to ChatGPT, citing concerns over the platform's direction. Meanwhile, Discord is facing strong user backlash after announcing plans for age verification, though the company says most users will not be affected. In California, opening arguments have started in a lawsuit accusing social media platforms of deliberately designing addictive experiences. Additional coverage includes the technology behind the major football broadcast and new FCC restrictions on drone operations. Leia mais →

OpenAI has rolled out a global age‑prediction system for ChatGPT to automatically apply a teen‑mode experience to users it believes are under 18. The model relies on behavioral cues, account history, usage patterns, and language analysis, and defaults to caution when uncertain. Several adult subscribers report being mistakenly routed to teen mode, facing content restrictions and being asked to verify their age through a third‑party tool that may request official ID or a selfie video. Users criticize the invasive verification process and raise privacy concerns, while OpenAI says the data is deleted after verification and promises ongoing refinements. Leia mais →

A coalition of U.S. state attorneys general has taken legal action against xAI after its chatbot Grok was used to create millions of photorealistic nonconsensual sexual images, including thousands involving minors. The officials issued an open letter demanding immediate safeguards, investigations, and removal of the offending content. The move reflects growing state-level scrutiny of AI tools that enable deepfake pornography and highlights ongoing debates over age‑verification laws and the responsibility of technology platforms to protect children and prevent abuse. Leia mais →

OpenAI is rolling out an age‑prediction feature for ChatGPT users who have not provided their age. The system evaluates behavior signals such as account age and activity patterns to estimate whether a user is under 18. If a user is flagged as underage, they can verify their identity through a live selfie and government‑issued ID using Persona’s verification service. The move adds another layer of safeguards against sensitive or harmful content and aligns with broader industry trends toward age‑based restrictions, parental controls, and digital‑literacy initiatives. Leia mais →

OpenAI announced a global rollout of an age prediction system for ChatGPT accounts. The model evaluates behavioral and account-level signals to estimate whether a user is a minor, and users flagged as underage must verify their age through a selfie on the Persona age verification platform. The move follows criticism of AI firms for adding safety measures after incidents, including a wrongful‑death lawsuit linked to a teen’s use of ChatGPT. OpenAI also plans an "adult mode" for NSFW content, prompting concerns that underage users may try to bypass the new protections, similar to challenges seen on platforms like Roblox. Leia mais →

OpenAI and Anthropic announced new measures aimed at identifying and protecting underage users of their AI chat services. OpenAI will incorporate four new principles for users under 18 into its Model Spec, prioritize teen safety, and begin testing an age‑prediction system that will automatically apply safeguards when a user is flagged as likely underage. Anthropic, which already blocks users under 18 from accessing Claude, is developing a detection system that looks for subtle conversational cues indicating a minor. Both companies cite ongoing pressure to improve safety after recent legal challenges and public scrutiny. Leia mais →

OpenAI announced plans to launch an "adult mode" for ChatGPT in early 2026, aiming to let users discuss mature topics while using AI‑driven age verification. The feature will rely on behavioral analysis rather than traditional "confirm your age" prompts, and its rollout depends on the effectiveness of a new age‑prediction model currently being tested in several countries. OpenAI sees the move as both a compliance step amid growing regulatory focus on online age verification and a potential premium offering for subscribers. Leia mais →

OpenAI announced that a new “adult mode” for ChatGPT is slated to launch in the first quarter of 2026. The feature will be enabled only after the company perfects an age‑prediction model designed to identify users under 18 and apply appropriate safeguards. Fidji Simo, OpenAI’s CEO of Applications, said the model is currently being tested in select countries to ensure it correctly distinguishes teens from adults. The move follows a broader industry push toward more robust age‑verification technologies. Leia mais →

The EU Council has reached a compromise on the Child Sexual Abuse Regulation, allowing messaging services to choose whether to scan all user chats for illegal content. While the change preserves end‑to‑end encryption by removing a mandatory backdoor, the text still permits forced scanning for services deemed “high‑risk” and introduces privacy‑sensitive age‑verification requirements. Privacy experts warn that the “voluntary” model may still enable mass surveillance and censorship, and they urge the European Parliament and Commission to resist any erosion of digital rights. The agreement now moves to trilogue negotiations, with a final adoption expected next year. Leia mais →

Character.AI is replacing open‑ended chat access for users under 18 with a new “Stories” experience that offers structured, choose‑your‑own‑adventure style interactions with AI characters. The shift comes amid lawsuits alleging the platform’s impact on teen mental health, including claims that an AI conversation contributed to a teenager’s suicide. While the Stories feature is available to all users, the company is promoting it as a safer alternative for minors while it develops an age‑verification system to automatically route younger users to more conservative AI chats. Leia mais →

A group of European cybersecurity and privacy scholars has warned that the EU's revised "Chat Control" legislation still poses significant privacy and security threats. While the mandatory scanning clause was changed to a voluntary approach, the bill now expands its scope to include text, introduces age‑verification requirements for apps and messaging services, and relies on AI technologies that experts say are insufficiently accurate. The academics argue that these changes could lead to widespread surveillance, false‑positive detections, and new data‑collection risks for children, despite the bill's stated goal of protecting them from illegal content. Leia mais →

U.S. Senators Josh Hawley and Richard Blumenthal have introduced legislation that would require AI companies to verify the age of every user and prohibit individuals under 18 from accessing AI chatbots. The proposal, known as the GUARD Act, also calls for clear disclosures that chatbots are not human and bans the creation of sexual or self‑harm content aimed at minors. Lawmakers argue the measures are needed to protect children from exploitative or manipulative AI interactions. Leia mais →

OpenAI CEO Sam Altman announced a forthcoming version of ChatGPT that will behave more like the earlier GPT‑4o model. The update will let users customize tone, personality and emoji usage, and will introduce an adult‑only mode that permits verified adults to generate erotica and other mature content. Altman said the changes aim to balance greater flexibility with stronger safeguards after a period of restrictive policies focused on mental‑health concerns. The move reflects OpenAI’s shift toward more personalized AI experiences while maintaining age‑gating tools to address safety and ethical considerations. Leia mais →

OpenAI announced that, once its age‑gating and parental‑control features are fully deployed, the company will allow verified adult users to access erotica through ChatGPT. CEO Sam Altman highlighted the move as part of a broader "treat adult users like adults" principle. The plan follows earlier updates that introduced automatic age detection and parental controls, as well as developer guidelines for mature (18+) experiences. The decision comes amid ongoing discussions about AI safety and mental‑health impacts, including reference to a teen suicide linked to ChatGPT usage. Leia mais →

Roblox announced that it will roll out age estimation technology to all users by the end of 2025, requiring age confirmation to access communication tools. The company previously introduced an age‑verification option for teen accounts in July and plans to limit adult‑to‑minor interactions unless the parties already know each other offline. Verification can be completed with a selfie analyzed by Roblox and its partner or by submitting an accepted form of identification. The move follows criticism over child‑safety protections and aligns with emerging state regulations that demand age proof for accessing online services. Leia mais →

The California Assembly has approved the Digital Age Assurance Act (AB 1043), a bill that would require operating system and app‑store providers to verify users' ages before allowing app downloads. The measure, which passed the Assembly 58‑0, places the responsibility on platforms to offer parental tools during device setup rather than demanding photo ID. Support has come from major tech firms, including Google and Meta, while the bill moves to Governor Gavin Newsom for signature before the October 13 deadline. Leia mais →

New York has moved to protect minors online by detailing rules for the Stop Addictive Feeds Exploitation (SAFE) for Kids Act. Governor Kathy Hochul signed the legislation, and Attorney General Letitia James announced that platforms must verify users' ages before delivering algorithmic feeds or nighttime notifications. The state will allow platforms to choose verification methods that are effective and protect data, but will prohibit reliance on government‑issued IDs. A parental‑consent component requires minors to seek permission for curated feeds, with both minors and parents able to revoke consent at any time. Public comment is open until December 1, and the rules must be finalized within a year. Leia mais →

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. Leia mais →

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. Leia mais →

Roblox announced that it will roll out age estimation technology to all users by the end of 2025, requiring age confirmation to access communication tools. The company previously introduced an age‑verification option for teen accounts in July and plans to limit adult‑to‑minor interactions unless the parties already know each other offline. Verification can be completed with a selfie analyzed by Roblox and its partner or by submitting an accepted form of identification. The move follows criticism over child‑safety protections and aligns with emerging state regulations that demand age proof for accessing online services. Leia mais →