OpenAI announced on Tuesday that it will introduce a new ChatGPT experience tailored for users under 18, complete with parental controls and enhanced safeguards aimed at protecting teenagers.

The AI company explained that when a user is identified as a minor, they will automatically be directed to a safer, age-appropriate version of ChatGPT. This version blocks explicit or harmful content and, in rare emergency cases, may involve law enforcement if a teen appears to be in serious distress.

To strengthen these protections, OpenAI is also developing improved age-detection tools. In situations where a user’s age cannot be reliably confirmed, the chatbot will default to the under-18 version by default.

The rollout comes as the U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) investigates how major tech companies, including OpenAI, assess the risks AI chatbots may pose to children and teens. Regulators say they want to understand what measures are being taken to evaluate the safety of AI when used as conversational companions.

Safety concerns have been amplified by a lawsuit earlier this year, in which a family alleged that ChatGPT contributed to their teenage son’s suicide. Last month, OpenAI outlined how the system is designed to respond in sensitive cases.

Chief Executive Sam Altman, writing in a blog post on Tuesday, emphasized the company’s position: “We prioritize safety ahead of privacy and freedom for teens; this is a new and powerful technology, and we believe minors need significant protection.”

According to CNBC, parental controls were first previewed in August, but OpenAI has now shared more details. The features—expected to roll out by the end of the month—will let parents connect their accounts with their teen’s, set blackout hours to limit use, disable specific functions, and guide how the chatbot responds. Parents will also be notified if ChatGPT detects signs of acute distress.

The company reiterated that ChatGPT is intended for users aged 13 and older, and said it consulted experts while developing these safeguards. “These are difficult decisions, but after talking with experts, this is what we think is best and want to be transparent in our intentions,” Altman wrote.