Aug. 18 (UPI) — OpenAI introduced ChatGPT for Teens on Tuesday, a new version of its popular chatbot that caters to younger users by limiting higher-risk topics.

The new mode adds parental controls and other safeguards focused on teen safety amid global concerns about the dangers AI presents to children. The company said ChatGPT for Teens is a safety first mode that treats “teens like teens.”

“For teen users, protections are part of the default experience,” OpenAI said. “For users under 18, ChatGPT for Teens applies age-appropriate safeguards designed to reduce exposure to content that may be harmful or developmentally inappropriate, while preserving the ability to learn, create, and explore.”

OpenAI said that developmental science and expert guidance inform the safeguards implemented into the teen version of the chatbot.

The chatbot’s “Model Spec,” a set of rules built into the chatbot that guide its behavior, has been updated to keep teens away from topic areas such as self-harm, violence, eating disorders, explicit sexual or graphic content and those related to dangerous activities.

ChatGPT requires new users to disclose their age upon signing up. Users must be 13 years old or older though it is possible for younger users to get around this restriction.

OpenAI has been the subject of lawsuits and probes around the world over the dangers it poses to children. Florida was the first state in the United States to sue the company, accusing it of misrepresenting its safety measures to protect minors on its platform.

Along with the safety guardrails, ChatGPT for Teens introduces features meant to help teens study with Study Mode. This feature assists teens in understanding unfamiliar concepts and guides them through practice questions related to their studies.

ChatGPT for Teens also includes “responsible homework reminders,” which OpenAI says “can recognize when a teen appears to be trying to shortcut an assignment, and redirect them toward Study Mode for step-by-step collaborative problem solving.”

“When we introduced Study Mode, it was built with teachers, scientists, and pedagogy experts and drew on longstanding research in learning science,” OpenAI says. “It uses guided questions, scaffolding, metacognitive prompts, and knowledge checks to help students work through problems step by step instead of simply receiving a solution.”