ChatGPT for Teens: OpenAI stops the chatbot acting human

This article was published on August 18, 2026 OpenAI has begun rolling out ChatGPT for Teens, and under-18s land in it automatically. The chatbot must not use romantic language, encourage emotional dependence, or imply it has feelings. Study Mode can now switch on at set hours. The rollout should finish within two weeks. OpenAI launched ChatGPT for Teens on Tuesday. It is a separate version of the chatbot, and under-18s land in it automatically. Anyone who says they are 13 to 17 gets it by default. So does anyone the company’s age-prediction system estimates is under 18. The global rollout began on 18 August, and Engadget reported that OpenAI expects to finish within two weeks. “There’s no need for a teen to create a new account or change anything; if we predict you’re under 18, or you’ve told us so, this becomes your default experience,” Lauren Jonas, OpenAI’s head of youth and families, told Engadget. The product bundles two sets of changes. One pushes teenagers towards studying rather than collecting answers. The other stops the chatbot behaving like a person. OpenAI says its under-18 model spec now goes further than blocking romantic or sexualised roleplay. The chatbot should n