ChatGPT Introduces Trusted Contact Feature

OpenAI is rolling out a Trusted Contact feature for ChatGPT. Adult users can designate one trusted person—such as a friend, family member, or caregiver—and if an automated system and a small team of specially trained reviewers identify a serious safety concern, a notification may be sent to that contact.

• Eligibility to register is 18 years or older worldwide, and 19 years or older in Korea.
• An invited Trusted Contact must accept within 1 week for the feature to be activated.
• Notifications are sent via email, text message, or in-app notification within the ChatGPT app, and do not include conversation content or transcripts.
• If an invitation is declined, the user can designate another adult again.
• Users can edit or delete their Trusted Contact in settings at any time, and contacts can also opt themselves out via the Help Center.

This feature extends the existing parental control safety alerts to adult users. OpenAI designed it together with the Global Physicians Network—comprised of more than 260 licensed physicians across 60 countries—the Expert Council on Well-Being and AI, and the American Psychological Association (APA), among others, aiming to have serious safety alerts undergo additional review by specially trained personnel and be handled within 1 hour. ChatGPT will continue to also provide guidance toward crisis hotlines, emergency services, and mental health professionals.