OpenAI announced $5 million in grants to support independent research on how generative AI affects the lives and development of young people aged 13–17.
The initiative seeks to build a stronger evidence base about teen use of AI, its impacts, and ways to improve safety and outcomes.
The funding will support research into the opportunities and challenges associated with AI use during adolescence, with a focus on social and emotional development.
The grants will fund studies on how teens use generative AI, the potential impacts of AI on their lives, and the factors shaping these effects.
Research will also explore technical interventions, safeguards, and design choices that can increase benefits or keep teens safer. OpenAI encourages interdisciplinary research involving fields such as child and adolescent development, psychology, public health, and AI safety.
OpenAI emphasized the need for ethical considerations, especially when involving minors, and requires applicants to address informed consent, privacy, and data protection. Research involving sensitive information may require additional ethical review and safeguards. The program welcomes proposals from any country, with priority given to those from regions with significant AI adoption.
"Generative AI is becoming part of how teens learn, create, and seek advice. Its effects are likely to be nuanced," said OpenAI. The company added that the initiative aims to deepen industry-wide understanding of the nuances across age and context, as well as the efficacy of safeguards and interventions.
The announcement follows growing concerns about the impact of AI on youth, with OpenAI framing the initiative as a step toward better understanding and addressing these challenges. The company did not specify the exact outcomes expected from the research, and highlighted the need for further exploration of how AI affects different demographics.
Source: openai
