OpenAI’s collaboration with Common Sense Media signifies a crucial step in addressing the challenges associated with GenAI-powered apps, such as biases and misinformation. Through the joint curation of family-friendly GPTs and adherence to Common Sense Media’s rating framework, the partnership aims to provide a transparent “nutrition label” for AI-powered applications. This not only addresses regulatory scrutiny but also educates parents, educators, and teens about responsible AI use. Despite concerns, children and teens are increasingly turning to AI tools for various needs, emphasizing the importance of guiding their usage responsibly.
OpenAI and Common Sense Media have entered into a strategic partnership to enhance the safety and responsible use of AI tools, particularly for children and teens. This collaboration involves curating “family-friendly” GPTs based on Common Sense Media’s rigorous standards. With increasing concerns about the impact and potential harms of AI, this partnership aims to bridge the knowledge gap between younger generations and parents. By creating educational materials and guidelines, the initiative seeks to empower families and educators, fostering a confident and informed approach to AI adoption.
The partnership involves OpenAI and Common Sense Media jointly working on the curation of “family-friendly” GPTs (Generative Pre-trained Transformers) — chatbot applications powered by OpenAI’s GenAI models. These GPTs will be featured in the GPT Store, OpenAI’s marketplace for GPT-powered applications. The selection and curation process will be based on Common Sense Media’s rigorous rating and evaluation standards. OpenAI’s CEO, Sam Altman, emphasized the significance of this collaboration in enhancing the safety measures associated with AI tools, ensuring that families and teens can use them with confidence.
This announcement follows OpenAI’s commitment to participate in Common Sense Media’s framework, introduced in September, for rating and reviewing AI products. The framework, akin to a “nutrition label” for AI-powered applications, assesses factors such as safety, transparency, ethical use, and overall impact. James Steyer, the co-founder and CEO of Common Sense Media, explained that the goal is to provide consumers, especially parents, with a clear understanding of how AI applications, including OpenAI’s offerings, operate in different contexts. The framework aligns with a set of “common sense” principles to highlight both opportunities and potential risks associated with these technologies.
Steyer pointed out the existing knowledge gap between younger generations and parents regarding GenAI tools, exemplified by OpenAI’s widely known AI-powered chatbot, ChatGPT. An Impact Research poll commissioned by Common Sense Media revealed that 58% of students aged 12 to 18 had used ChatGPT, while only 30% of parents with school-aged children had done so. The partnership aims to bridge this gap by creating guides and curating content that educates families and educators about the safe and responsible use of OpenAI tools. The overarching goal is to avoid any unintended negative consequences stemming from the adoption of emerging AI technologies.
OpenAI faces regulatory scrutiny, with pressure to demonstrate that its GenAI-powered apps, including ChatGPT, contribute positively to society without causing harm. Last summer, the U.S. Federal Trade Commission initiated an investigation into OpenAI, questioning whether ChatGPT’s data collection and publication practices had detrimental effects on consumers. European data authorities have also expressed concerns about OpenAI’s handling of private information.
One of the challenges associated with OpenAI’s tools, like many other GenAI tools, is their tendency to confidently generate inaccurate information and exhibit biases, reflecting the data used during their training. The partnership with Common Sense Media seeks to address these challenges by emphasizing responsible use and guiding both young users and their parents on the potential limitations and biases of AI-powered tools.
Despite these challenges, children and teens are increasingly turning to AI tools for various purposes, including academic assistance and addressing personal issues. A poll conducted by the Center for Democracy and Technology revealed that 29% of kids have used ChatGPT to deal with anxiety or mental health issues, 22% for problems related to friendships, and 16% for resolving family conflicts.
Overall, the partnership between OpenAI and Common Sense Media marks a pivotal move towards ensuring the positive impact and safe integration of AI in society. By fostering collaboration and addressing regulatory concerns, the initiative strives to create a more informed user base. Empowering families and educators with guidelines and educational materials not only enhances safety but also encourages responsible AI use. As the landscape of AI applications evolves, this partnership serves as a beacon for building trust and confidence in the transformative potential of AI technologies.