OpenAI Expert Council on Well-Being and AI

OpenAI has formed the Expert Council on Well-Being and AI to guide the development of ChatGPT and Sora, ensuring these tools support user well-being and mental health. This council provides expert advice on defining healthy AI interactions across all age groups and establishing guardrails for sensitive situations.

Council Composition and Expertise

The Expert Council on Well-Being and AI consists of leading researchers and experts in psychology, psychiatry, and human-computer interaction. The group is specifically designed to include perspectives on how technology affects emotions, motivation, and mental health, with a particular focus on youth development due to the differing ways teens use AI.

Key members include:

  • David Bickham, Ph.D.: Research Director at the Digital Wellness Lab at Boston Children’s Hospital and Assistant Professor at Harvard Medical School, specializing in youth social media use and mental health.
  • Mathilde Cerioli, Ph.D.: Chief Scientific Officer at everyone.AI, focusing on the intersection of AI and child cognitive and emotional development.
  • Munmun De Choudhury, Ph.D.: Professor of Interactive Computing at Georgia Tech, utilizing computational approaches to understand online technologies and mental health.
  • Tracy Dennis-Tiwary, Ph.D.: Professor of Psychology at Hunter College and CSO at Arcade Therapeutics, focusing on digital games for mental health.
  • David Mohr, Ph.D.: Professor at Northwestern University and Director of the Center for Behavioral Intervention Technologies, studying technology's role in preventing and treating depression and anxiety.
  • Robert K. Ross, M.D.: Expert in public health and health philanthropy, and former pediatrician.

Operational Framework and Integration

OpenAI integrates the council's advice into the product development cycle through regular check-ins and recurring meetings. The council's role is to advise, pose questions, and help define the behavioral standards for AI in complex or sensitive scenarios.

Practical applications of the council's expertise have already been implemented in the following areas:

  • Parental Controls: Council members helped prioritize which controls to build and developed the notification language used when a teen may be in distress, ensuring the tone is caring and respectful.
  • Well-Being Definitions: Initial discussions have focused on defining what constitutes well-being and exploring how ChatGPT can empower users in various aspects of their lives.

Broader Safety and Clinical Alignment

OpenAI's well-being efforts are complemented by work with the Global Physician Network. While the Expert Council focuses on the broader approach to well-being, a multidisciplinary subset of clinicians and researchers within the Global Physician Network—spanning psychiatry, psychology, pediatrics, and crisis intervention—works directly on shaping model behavior, policies, and real-world testing to ensure systems are grounded in clinical best practices.

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