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Child safety groups push for age checks on AI apps

Campaigners want stronger protections for teenagers using AI companions.

Humanopia Editorial Team · Sep 8, 2026 · 2 min read

For most readers, the change will be gradual. Paid users get access first, then the feature moves to free plans over the following weeks. Businesses usually wait for admin controls before they switch anything on.

The announcement came with a short blog post, a technical document and a handful of demos. As usual, the demos show the best case. We read the documentation to see what the product does on an ordinary day.

What happened

Privacy groups asked how the new data will be stored and for how long. The company says customer data is not used for training by default on business plans. Consumer plans have a setting that you should check.

  • Usage limits apply to long tasks
  • Available first to paid plans
  • Admin controls for business accounts
  • Independent tests are still limited

How we reported this

Regulators have not commented yet. In the EU, new obligations for general-purpose models mean that documentation like this is now expected rather than optional.

The question is not whether it works in a demo. It is whether it works on Tuesday afternoon with real data.

A technology analyst

The practical advice is the same as always: try it on a low-stakes task first, check the output against a source you trust, and keep a human in charge of anything that matters.

What to watch next

The timing is not an accident. Competitors have shipped similar updates in recent months, and every lab wants to be the default choice when a company signs a yearly contract.

Independent researchers were quick to test the claims. Early results broadly match what the company said, with the usual caveat: benchmarks measure narrow skills, and real work is messier than a test set.

At a glance

QuestionShort answer
Who is affected?Most everyday users, gradually
Does it cost more?Not for now
What should I do?Try it on a low-stakes task first

The bigger picture

We will update this story as more independent testing is published. If you have used the feature and want to share what you found, write to the editorial team.

Prices did not change, but limits did. Heavy users may hit the new caps sooner, especially when they upload large files or run long tasks in the background.

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