SAN FRANCISCO | Jan 20, 2026 OpenAI has begun rolling out a new age-prediction system for ChatGPT users worldwide, a move designed to identify accounts likely owned by minors as the company prepares to introduce age-restricted features on its popular chatbot.
The artificial intelligence company said the system uses behavioral and technical signals to estimate whether a user may be under the age of 18. When an account is flagged as potentially belonging to a minor, ChatGPT automatically applies additional safety protections to limit exposure to sensitive material.
“When our model estimates that an account may belong to someone under 18, enhanced safeguards are applied by default,” OpenAI said in a statement.
Verification for Misclassified Users
Users who believe they have been incorrectly placed into the under-18 experience can regain full access by verifying their age. OpenAI said this will require submitting a selfie through Persona, a third-party identity verification service.
In the European Union, the age-prediction feature is expected to be introduced in the coming weeks, as OpenAI continues to align its products with regional digital safety and data protection rules.
Adult Mode Planned for 2026
OpenAI executives have previously signaled that an “adult mode” is expected to launch within ChatGPT in the first quarter of 2026, allowing access to mature content only for users who confirm they are adults.
Fidji Simo, OpenAI’s CEO of Applications, said in December that age verification would be a prerequisite for any expansion into adult-only features, echoing earlier comments from OpenAI chief executive Sam Altman.
Rapid Growth and New Revenue Streams
ChatGPT currently serves about 800 million weekly active users, making it one of the world’s most widely used AI platforms.
Last week, OpenAI confirmed it had begun introducing advertisements to a limited number of U.S. users, part of a broader effort to diversify revenue.
The Microsoft-backed company said its annualized revenue exceeded $20 billion in 2025, more than tripling from $6 billion the previous year, driven largely by increased demand and expanded computing capacity.
