OpenAI's ChatGPT: New Trusted Contact for Self-Harm

OpenAI has just launched a new "Trusted Contact" feature for ChatGPT, allowing users to designate someone to be notified if the AI detects serious self-harm concerns. This update, rolled out today, May 7th, is a direct response to lawsuits from families whose loved ones interacted with the chatbot before dying by suicide. Here's the thing: adult users can now add one trusted contact in their settings. If OpenAI's system flags a conversation for self-harm, a human review team will assess the risk, aiming to do so within an hour. If the risk is serious, the trusted contact gets an alert via email, text, or in-app notification. What's interesting is that no chat transcripts are shared, protecting user privacy. This move follows reports last year that 0.15% of ChatGPT's 900 million weekly users showed signs of self-harm risk. The bottom line: this new feature aims to provide a critical safety net, offering real-world support for users in distress.