Young people already use AI to learn, create, ask questions, and look for advice. As that use grows, you — families, schools, clinicians, and communities — need clearer evidence, better resources, and stronger safeguards. That’s why we’re working with the American Psychological Association (APA) to bring psychological science into how we think about responsible AI development and use among young people.
APA is the leading scientific and professional organization for psychology in the United States. Its evidence-grounded work will help clarify what is known, what is uncertain, and what responsible AI should look like as the technology evolves.
What the OpenAI and APA alliance announced
OpenAI and the American Psychological Association have teamed up to bring psychological science into the design and responsible use of AI among young people. Why now? Because adolescents already use tools like ChatGPT during key moments of development, and that raises concrete questions about safety, effectiveness, and the need for human support.
The collaboration aims to translate scientific evidence into practical resources for families, schools, and mental health professionals. Some focus areas mentioned are:
- Supporting young people in moments of distress, with responses designed to connect them to real help when needed.
- Making the AI experience more developmentally appropriate for teens and useful in educational and clinical contexts.
- Creating tools and guides for parents, caregivers, and professionals that steer healthy AI use.
- Including voices with lived experience: teens, families, teachers, and specialists.
The alliance intends for the evidence to say what works, what is uncertain, and how to design protections that put youth wellbeing first.
What this means in practice
This isn’t an empty statement: OpenAI is already implementing measures and plans to develop more, together with the APA and other experts. Here are some actions and resources mentioned:
- Working with more than 260 mental health experts so
ChatGPTcan recognize risk signals and respond with care. - Expanded access to localized crisis resources and one-click hotline connections.
- Prompts to take breaks and additional protections for users under 18, including parental controls and notifications to adults in cases of risk.
- Principles for minors in its Model Specification and an age-prediction model to apply appropriate experiences and safeguards.
In short: the idea is to combine technical measures with clinical and educational guidance, and to validate all that with real research.
Why this matters to you (if you're a parent, teacher, or therapist)
Worried about how your child uses AI? Do questions about AI come up in class or therapy and you’re not sure how to respond? This alliance aims to give practical answers: materials that help identify when AI can be useful and when an adult should step in.
Some concrete benefits:
- Tools to help you talk with teens about limits and responsible tech use.
- Resources for professionals already seeing AI-related concerns in therapy or school.
- Research-based guidance for designers and companies building tools that will reach minors.
Practical tips for families and schools
You don’t need to be an expert to take useful steps today. Here are simple, applicable actions:
- Talk openly with teens about what they do with AI and why they use it. Listening first makes guidance more effective.
- Set clear agreements: when to use AI, for what, and what to look for in answers.
- Use parental controls as one layer of support, not the only measure. Explain why they exist.
- Teach critical thinking: how to verify information and when to seek an adult.
- If a young person shows signs of distress, prioritize referral to human services, using AI only as an informational aid.
Risks and limits: AI doesn't solve everything
AI can help with information, initial guidance, and connecting to resources, but it shouldn’t replace human relationships or professional services. The APA partnership aims precisely for that balance: leveraging technology’s potential while ensuring reliable human support.
It’s also key that measures are tested with real data and the voices of people who use these tools. Making decisions without that evidence can create false fixes or leave protection gaps.
What we'll see in the short term
You can expect family guides and materials for schools and clinics, more partnerships between tech and mental health, and public evaluations of what works. Products like ChatGPT should continue improving at recognizing crises and offering safe steps toward human help.
Ultimately, the goal is for AI to complement the care network around young people, not replace it. Want to know how to apply these guidelines at your school or home? This partnership promises concrete resources for that.
Original source
https://openai.com/index/openai-and-apa-partner-to-advance-responsible-ai