OpenAI has announced plans to introduce parental controls in ChatGPT following concerns that the chatbot may have influenced a teenager to take his own life.

The update will allow parents to link their accounts with their teens’ accounts and set rules to ensure the chatbot responds in an age-appropriate way.

It will also alert parents if it detects that a teen may be experiencing serious emotional distress, giving them a chance to intervene.

The move comes after a California couple, Matthew and Maria Raine, filed a lawsuit claiming their 16-year-old son was given detailed instructions on suicide by ChatGPT and was encouraged to act on them.

OpenAI acknowledged the case and said it is working to improve how the chatbot handles users showing signs of mental or emotional crisis.

Over the next three months, the company plans to enhance safety measures, including redirecting sensitive conversations to a more advanced system designed to better enforce safety protocols.