This development comes at a time when regulators and parents are questioning the safety of AI tools for young users.

The new feature allows parents and teenagers to link their accounts, enabling a set of safeguards once both sides accept the invitation. Once connected, parents can decide whether ChatGPT stores past conversations, generates images, or operates in voice mode. 

They can also set “quiet hours” to block usage during certain times and prevent their child’s chats from being used to train OpenAI’s systems.

While parents gain more control, they will not be able to read transcripts of their teenager’s conversations. OpenAI explained that in rare situations where serious safety risks are detected, parents may receive alerts containing only the details necessary to protect their child.

A key part of the update is the enhanced content protections built into linked teen accounts. These filters aim to reduce exposure to harmful material such as graphic content, viral challenges, violent or romantic roleplay, and extreme beauty standards. OpenAI stressed that these protections were developed after reviewing research on adolescent development.

Robbie Torney, senior director of AI Programmes at Common Sense Media, welcomed the step but emphasised the role of families in creating safer digital spaces: “These parental controls are a good starting point for parents in managing their teen’s ChatGPT use. Parental controls are just one piece of the puzzle when it comes to keeping teens safe online, though—they work best when combined with ongoing conversations about responsible AI use, clear family rules about technology, and active involvement in understanding what their teen is doing online.”

The company has also introduced a resource page for parents, bringing together guidance on ChatGPT, tips for safe use, and expert advice. It said the tools will continue to evolve, especially as work progresses on an age-prediction system designed to automatically apply teen-appropriate settings.

In recent months, U.S. regulators have investigated whether chatbots expose minors to harmful interactions. Meta, for instance, had a case when its AI systems were found to allow “flirty” conversations with teenagers.

OpenAI, backed by Microsoft, reported that ChatGPT currently has around 700 million weekly active users; with its new parental controls, the company is hoping to strike a balance between protecting teenagers and supporting families in navigating the fast-growing influence of artificial intelligence at home.

If completed, this would be a huge expansion of the company’s presence in Asia and strengthen India’s place in its global infrastructure plans.

The company, already backed by Microsoft, has formally registered as a legal entity in India and is assembling a team on the ground. It has also confirmed plans to open its first office in New Delhi later this year. 

The scale of the proposed data centre shows that India is not just a growing user base but a strategic hub for OpenAI’s long-term operations.

This development is part of OpenAI’s “Stargate” programme, a massive AI infrastructure drive involving multi-gigawatt facilities across several regions. The rollout so far includes a 520-megawatt site in Norway, a five-gigawatt project in Abu Dhabi, and a 4.5-gigawatt buildout in the United States. 

Together, these projects represent an investment of up to $500 billion, funded by SoftBank, Oracle and OpenAI.

India’s proposed one-gigawatt facility would be among the largest of its kind in the country. It aligns with the government’s $1.2 billion IndiaAI Mission, which aims to strengthen domestic AI capacity, support startups, and build sovereign data infrastructure. 

For New Delhi, such a project could enhance the nation’s ambitions to become a top player in global AI development.

While the exact site and timeline are not confirmed, Bloomberg reported that OpenAI’s CEO Sam Altman may announce further details during his visit to India in September. OpenAI itself has not commented on the reports.

Building a data centre in India also fits into the company’s “OpenAI for Countries” initiative, designed to provide nations with tailored AI models and infrastructure while preserving democratic values and data sovereignty. More than 30 countries have expressed interest, with India counted among the first group targeted for partnerships.

Alongside these infrastructure plans, OpenAI has stepped up education efforts in India. Earlier this year, it launched the OpenAI Learning Accelerator, which distributed 500,000 free ChatGPT licences to students and educators in partnership with the Ministry of Education, AICTE, and ARISE schools. The goal, according to the company, is to turn AI into a personal tutor and teaching assistant for millions.

A data centre by OpenAI in India might make the country host one of the AI giant’s largest facilities and also become a central pillar of its Asia-Pacific operations.