ChatGPT to start guessing users’ ages to determine appropriate content
OpenAI said on Tuesday it is rolling out age prediction globally in ChatGPT to determine whether an account is likely owned by a minor, as the company prepares to allow adult content and ads on the chatbot.
According to OpenAI, when its age prediction model estimates an account may belong to someone under 18, ChatGPT will automatically apply additional protections designed to reduce exposure to sensitive content. The company said these measures are intended to limit access to material deemed inappropriate for minors.
OpenAI explained the method of its age prediction model in a recent blog post. According to the blog, the company will consider a combination of behavioral and account-level signals, including how long an account has existed, typical times of day when someone is active, usage patterns over time, and a user’s stated age.
Users who are mistakenly placed into the under-18 experience will be able to regain full access by submitting a selfie through Persona, an identity verification service widely used to confirm age.
The announcement follows comments made in December by OpenAI’s chief executive of applications, Fidji Simo, who said she expects an “adult mode” to debut within ChatGPT in the first quarter of 2026. Her remarks followed earlier statements by OpenAI chief executive Sam Altman about allowing mature content for users who verify their age. The age prediction feature is also tied to the company’s push for ads on the chatbot, as it promised to exclude minors under 18 from them.
Microsoft-backed OpenAI’s annualized revenue surpassed $20 billion in 2025, up from $6 billion in 2024, according to comments made by finance chief Sarah Friar, who said growth closely tracked an expansion in computing capacity.
