Framework Overview

OpenAI Japan has announced the Japan Teen Safety Blueprint, a new safety framework specifically designed to protect teenage users of generative AI. The framework acknowledges that as the first generation grows up alongside AI, it is critical to ensure these technologies are designed with teen safety and well-being at the center.

Four Core Pillars

The blueprint is built on four key pillars:

1. Age-Aware Protections OpenAI will implement privacy-conscious, risk-based age estimation to distinguish teens from adults and provide appropriate protections for each group. Appeals processes will allow users to challenge incorrect age determinations.

2. Strengthened Safety Policies New policies will prevent ChatGPT from depicting or encouraging self-harm, suicide, explicit sexual or violent content, or dangerous behaviors. Responses will be tailored to users' developmental stages, and the AI will not help minors conceal risky behaviors or health concerns from parents or caregivers.

3. Expanded Parental Controls Families will gain access to tools including account linking, privacy settings, usage-time management, and alerts to customize protections based on their needs.

4. Research-Based Design In collaboration with clinicians, researchers, educators, and child safety experts, OpenAI will enhance features like break reminders and pathways to real-world support while researching AI's impact on teen mental health.

Existing Safeguards

These efforts build on existing protections already available in ChatGPT, including in-product break reminders, self-harm detection with resource guidance, multi-layered safety systems, and industry-leading prevention of child sexual exploitation material.

Industry Leadership

OpenAI emphasizes this is a shared responsibility across society—companies, governments, educators, and families—and believes these protections should become standard across the AI industry. The company will continue engaging with Japanese stakeholders including parents, educators, policymakers, and researchers through transparent dialogue.