OpenAI launches parental controls as Hollywood battles AI actors

OpenAI has introduced new parental controls that allow adults to monitor and manage teen accounts on its platform, while Hollywood grapples with the controversial debut of AI-generated actor Tilly Norwood. These developments highlight the growing intersection of AI technology with child safety concerns, as parents increasingly turn to digital tools—from AI platform controls to GPS tracking apps—to protect their children in both virtual and physical spaces.

What you should know: OpenAI’s teen safety mode represents a significant step in AI platform governance for minors.

• The new parental controls enable adults to oversee how teenagers interact with ChatGPT and other OpenAI services, providing visibility into usage patterns and content access.
• Parents can set restrictions and monitor conversations to ensure age-appropriate AI interactions.
• The feature addresses growing concerns about unsupervised AI access among younger users.

Hollywood’s AI controversy: The entertainment industry is facing backlash over the introduction of AI-generated performer Tilly Norwood.

• The debut of this artificial actor has sparked widespread outrage among industry professionals and unions.
• The controversy underscores ongoing tensions between traditional Hollywood talent and AI-generated content creators.
• This development adds fuel to existing debates about AI’s role in creative industries and potential job displacement.

Halloween safety tech: Parents are increasingly relying on digital solutions to monitor their children’s safety during trick-or-treating activities.

• GPS-enabled smartphone apps allow real-time location tracking of children as they move through neighborhoods.
• Smart devices and wearable technology provide additional layers of monitoring and communication.
• These tools reflect a broader trend of parents using technology to maintain oversight of their children’s activities outside the home.

Why this matters: These three stories collectively illustrate how AI and digital monitoring technologies are becoming integral to modern parenting and child safety strategies, while simultaneously raising questions about privacy, creativity, and the appropriate boundaries between human and artificial intelligence in various sectors.