OpenAI Japan Teen Safety Blueprint

OpenAI Japan has announced the the Japan Teen Safety Blueprint, a framework designed to ensure teenagers use generative AI safely. This initiative prioritizes safety over convenience, privacy, or freedom of use to mitigate risks such as misinformation, inappropriate content, and psychological strain for younger users.

Key Pillars of the Japan Teen Safety Blueprint

The Japan Teen Safety Blueprint is built upon four primary technical and operational pillars:

Age-Aware Protections

OpenAI will implement privacy-conscious, risk-based age estimation to distinguish teenagers from adults. This allows the platform to apply specific protections tailored to the age group. An appeals process will be available for users who believe their age determination was incorrect.

Strengthened Safety Policies for Minors

Safety policies for users under 18 are being strengthened to prevent the AI from:

  • Generating explicit sexual or violent content.
  • Depicting or encouraging self-harm or suicide.
  • Encouraging dangerous behavior.
  • Reinforcing harmful body image.

Responses are designed to be developmentally appropriate. Additionally, the AI is restricted from helping minors conceal risky behaviors, symptoms, or health-related concerns from parents or caregivers.

Expanded Parental Controls

OpenAI is introducing tools to help families customize protections, including:

  • Account linking
  • Privacy and settings controls
  • Usage-time management
  • Alerts for parents and caregivers

Well-being-Centered Design

In collaboration with clinicians, researchers, educators, and child safety experts, OpenAI is developing features such as break reminders and pathways to real-world support. The company is also conducting research into the impact of AI on teen mental health and development.

Existing Safeguards

The new blueprint builds upon existing safety measures already integrated into ChatGPT, including:

  • Self-harm detection: Systems that detect potential self-harm signals and guide users toward real-world resources.
  • Usage reminders: In-product reminders that encourage users to take breaks during extended use.
  • Abuse monitoring: Multi-layered safety systems and abuse monitoring.
  • CSAM prevention: Industry-leading prevention of AI-generated child sexual exploitation material.

Industry and Societal Collaboration

OpenAI Japan emphasizes that protecting teenagers is a shared responsibility involving companies, governments, educators, and families. The company intends to engage with parents, policymakers, and local communities through transparent dialogue to make these protections an industry standard.

"Protecting the safety of a generation growing up with AI is a responsibility shared across society—including companies, governments, educators, and families. OpenAI is committed to working closely with stakeholders across Japan to help create an environment where young users can learn, create, and expand their potential with confidence."

—Kazuya Okubo, Head of Policy and Partnerships, OpenAI Japan

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