1 February 2024
In a bid to foster responsible and safe usage of artificial intelligence (AI) among teenagers, OpenAI has joined forces with Common Sense Media, a non-profit organisation dedicated to making technology accessible and secure for children. The collaboration aims to create guidelines and educational materials to assist teens, parents, and educators in navigating the world of AI responsibly.
OpenAI, known for its innovative AI technologies, including ChatGPT, sees the partnership as a crucial step in ensuring the safe integration of AI into educational experiences. Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI, emphasised the importance of making AI tools “safely and responsibly” available to teens and those incorporating them into their educational journeys.
“We want to figure out how to make this tool safely and responsibly and broadly available to teens and people who are going to use it as part of their educational experience,” Altman stated.
One of the key outcomes anticipated from this collaboration is the development of a teen-safe version of ChatGPT. This teen-friendly model aims to address concerns about the potential risks associated with AI interaction among younger users. Common Sense Media has been actively engaged in creating an AI ratings and review system to help parents, children, and educators better comprehend the potential risks and benefits of AI technologies.
Jim Steyer, CEO of Common Sense Media, highlighted that the partnership would focus on educating families and educators about the safe and responsible use of ChatGPT. The objective is to avoid any unintended consequences of the rapidly evolving technology.
“This partnership will be designed to educate families and educators about safe, responsible use of ChatGPT, so that we can collectively avoid any unintended consequences of this emerging technology,” Steyer affirmed.
The announcement comes at a time when concerns about AI misuse are heightened, as seen in recent explicit deepfake images of pop star Taylor Swift circulating on social platforms. The incident serves as a stark reminder of the nascent stage of AI regulation and controls. The challenges of Generative AI were also evident last year when schools in Spain investigated the circulation of deepfake photos of students.
As OpenAI and Common Sense Media take the initiative to guide the responsible usage of AI, the partnership signals a collective effort to mitigate potential risks and ensure a secure environment for the integration of AI into educational settings.
Further Reading
Arizona State University first higher education institution to collaborate with OpenAI
The transformative impact of personalised GPTs on education
Balancing promise and protection: AI safeguarding in education
