Character AI Parental Supervision: Enhancing Teen Safety

Character AI Introduces New Parental Controls

In response to legal challenges and concerns regarding the safety of young users, Character AI is implementing enhanced parental supervision features. The company, known for its platform allowing users to interact with AI characters through text and voice, announced these changes on Tuesday.

Weekly Activity Summaries for Guardians

A key component of the update is a weekly email report provided to parents and guardians. This report will detail a teenager’s activity within the Character AI application.

The summaries will include metrics such as the average time spent on the app and the broader web, alongside the duration of interactions with specific AI characters.

Furthermore, the report will identify the most frequently engaged AI characters during the week, offering parents insight into their teen’s preferences.

Data Insights, Not Direct Access

Character AI emphasizes that these reports are designed to provide parents with an overview of engagement patterns. Direct access to the content of individual chats will not be granted.

Previous Safety Measures

These new tools build upon safety features introduced last year. These included a specialized AI model for users under 18, notifications regarding time spent on the platform, and disclaimers clarifying the nature of interactions with AI.

The company also implemented content filtering, utilizing new classifiers to block sensitive material in both user inputs and AI responses.

Ongoing Legal Proceedings

Character AI recently filed a motion to dismiss a lawsuit alleging its involvement in a teenager’s suicide. This motion reflects the ongoing legal scrutiny surrounding the platform’s safety protocols.

The introduction of these parental controls represents a significant step towards addressing concerns and fostering a safer environment for teenage users of Character AI.