OpenAI studies generative AI impact on teenagers with $5 million research push

OpenAI is taking a closer look at how generative AI is affecting teenagers as concerns grow over the way young people are using chatbots for schoolwork, advice and emotional support. The company is conducting a study on teenage AI use while also committing $5 million to support independent research into issues affecting young people. The move comes shortly after OpenAI introduced ChatGPT for Teens with stronger safety features and parental controls. The company says the teen experience is designed to support learning while encouraging healthy relationships and safer use of AI. OpenAI examines how teenagers use generative AI Teenagers are already using AI chatbots for much more than generating homework answers. A Pew Research Center survey found that 54% of U.S. teens aged 13 to 17 had used chatbots for schoolwork, while 16% had used them for casual conversations. Another 12% said they had used chatbots for emotional support or advice. That growing use has raised questions about how AI could affect learning, relationships and emotional development. Researchers are particularly interested in whether teenagers are simply using AI as a tool or beginning to rely on it in situations where they would traditionally turn to friends, parents, teachers or professionals. OpenAI's research comes as scientists and educators continue to study both the potential benefits and risks of generative AI for young people. Recent research has raised concerns about issues ranging from cognitive development to body image and emotional dependence on AI systems. OpenAI puts $5 million behind independent research Alongside its own study, OpenAI is investing $5 million to support independent research focused on teenage issues. The funding is intended to help researchers examine questions surrounding young people's experiences with AI and the wider challenges facing teenagers. The move is significant because independent research can provide a perspective separate from studies conducted directly by AI companies. Researchers can examine how teenagers interact with chatbots, what they expect from these systems and where potential risks may emerge. OpenAI has already supported research into youth mental health. A study backed by the OpenAI Foundation and the Child Mind Institute is examining young people's mental health during interactions with AI chatbots using clinical assessments, digital journals and de-identified chat histories. Teen AI use is becoming a bigger concern The timing of OpenAI's research push reflects how quickly AI has entered teenagers' daily lives. The company is now building products specifically for younger users while simultaneously trying to understand the consequences of that adoption. The issue is becoming even more important as schools and parents debate how much AI should be allowed in education. Recent OECD research has also linked the wider use of AI and digital technology with concerns about declining reading and critical thinking skills among students, although the effects of AI itself remain difficult to separate from broader changes in screen use and education. For OpenAI, the research could help shape how its products are designed for younger users. The bigger question is no longer whether teenagers will use generative AI, but how that use will affect the way they learn, communicate and make decisions as they grow up.