Character.AI will remove open-ended chat for users under 18 by November 25 to ensure a safer experience. They are introducing new age assurance tools and establishing an AI Safety Lab to focus on safety in AI entertainment.

OpenAI is implementing age prediction in ChatGPT to identify users under 18 and enhance their safety online. This feature will provide additional content restrictions and parental controls to better protect young users. The rollout will be adjusted based on ongoing feedback and regional requirements.

YouTube CEO Neal Mohan outlines his goals for 2026, focusing on empowering creators and combating low-quality AI-generated content. He emphasizes the importance of maintaining high standards while introducing new AI tools to enhance creativity and viewer experiences. Enhanced parental controls and upcoming changes to YouTube Shorts are also part of the plan.

AT&T has introduced the amiGo Jr. phone, designed for children and their parents. It includes features like parental controls, location sharing, and a standard smartphone design, but lacks a playful aesthetic. The phone is priced at $209.99.

YouTube is rolling out new parental controls that allow parents to limit their children's viewing time on YouTube Shorts. They can set timers, block Shorts entirely, and create reminders for breaks. These updates aim to improve online safety for minors and make account switching easier for families.

Meta has integrated AI editing tools into Instagram Stories, allowing users to modify images and videos using text prompts. Features include adding or removing elements and applying preset effects. Users should be aware that using these tools means accepting terms that allow Meta to analyze their media.

OpenAI is updating the ChatGPT desktop app with a new Voice Mode that operates within the main window and is preparing to introduce an "Orders" section for native checkout and order tracking. Additionally, the company is working on implementing parental controls to enhance safety for younger users. These changes aim to position ChatGPT as a multifunctional assistant for productivity, shopping, and communication.

Microsoft has acknowledged that its Family Safety parental control service is inadvertently blocking Google Chrome and other web browsers from launching on Windows due to a bug related to web filtering. This issue, which affects users with Windows 10 and Windows 11, prevents browsers from functioning properly after updates unless the 'Activity reporting' feature is enabled, prompting parental approval as intended. Microsoft is actively working on a fix for the problem.

Apple has introduced new initiatives to enhance online safety for children and teens using its devices, allowing parents to share their children's age with app developers to control content exposure. Despite these innovations, concerns remain regarding app developers' responsibility for age verification and the potential risks of trusting tech giants with children's online safety. Experts emphasize that parental control solutions may still be necessary for effective monitoring of children's digital consumption.