OpenAI seeks to earn the trust of parents and policymakers by collaborating with organizations dedicated to addressing the potential negative impacts of technology and media on children and adolescents.
An example of such an endeavor is OpenAI’s recent partnership with Common Sense Media, a respected nonprofit organization known for evaluating the suitability of various media and technology for young audiences. Together, they aim to create AI guidelines and educational materials tailored for parents, educators, and young individuals.
As part of this joint effort, OpenAI will work alongside Common Sense Media to curate “family-friendly” GPTs – chatbot applications powered by OpenAI’s GenAI models – within the GPT Store, an online platform for GPT applications. These selected applications will adhere to Common Sense’s criteria for rating and assessing media content, a point emphasized by OpenAI CEO Sam Altman.
Altman highlighted the positive influence of AI on families and adolescents, stressing the significance of this collaboration in enhancing safety measures for users of AI tools. This partnership intends to provide families and teenagers with the confidence to utilize these technologies securely.
This collaboration builds upon OpenAI’s commitment to embracing Common Sense’s new framework, introduced in September, which evaluates the safety, transparency, ethical use, and societal implications of AI products. Common Sense’s framework aims to provide an “AI nutrition label” for AI-driven applications, as explained by Common Sense’s co-founder and CEO James Steyer, to illuminate the appropriate contexts for app usage and to address potential benefits and risks based on core principles.
Steyer pointed out the gap in knowledge among parents concerning GenAI tools, like OpenAI’s ChatGPT, compared to younger generations. A recent Impact Research poll commissioned by Common Sense Media revealed that a higher percentage of students aged 12 to 18 have utilized ChatGPT compared to parents of school-aged children.
Steyer reaffirmed the shared mission of Common Sense and OpenAI to ensure that AI has a positive impact on all families and teenagers. Their collaborative endeavors will concentrate on educating families and educators about the safe and responsible use of OpenAI tools such as ChatGPT to mitigate any unintended consequences stemming from this advancing technology.
OpenAI is under regulatory scrutiny to demonstrate that its GenAI-powered applications, including ChatGPT, contribute positively to society. Concerns have been raised by authorities such as the U.S. Federal Trade Commission and European data regulators regarding data collection practices and the spread of inaccurate information by ChatGPT.
GenAI tools, including those developed by OpenAI, are susceptible to inaccuracies and biases due to their training data. Despite these challenges, children and teenagers are increasingly relying on these tools for academic support and assistance with personal issues, as highlighted by a survey conducted by the Center for Democracy and Technology.
