OpenAI opens $5M teen AI research grants

OpenAI has opened a $5 million grant program funding independent research into how generative AI affects the development of young people ages 13–17, with a stated focus on teens' social and emotional development.

The company frames the program as an effort to build an evidence base that can "inform development of AI products for teens" and address questions facing policymakers and regulators — specifically citing nuances across age and context, the efficacy of safeguards and interventions, and how evidence can inform implementation and evaluation.

Named priority topics include emotional development and well-being; social development and relationships, including the relationship between AI and human connection; variance in outcomes across age, culture, language, and socioeconomic circumstances; and evaluation of mitigations, age-appropriate design, AI literacy, and policy approaches. OpenAI says it welcomes interdisciplinary work spanning child and adolescent development, psychology, public health, human-computer interaction, communication, sociology, anthropology, data science, and AI safety, and all methodologies — qualitative, quantitative, experimental, observational, theoretical, participatory, and mixed-methods.

Proposals are accepted from any country but the company says it will prioritize those from countries with significant AI adoption. Applications must be in English, though research may be conducted in any language. Submissions require a project summary, a proposal of no more than three pages excluding references, budget, timeline, team CVs, and a conflicts-of-interest disclosure. Research involving minors requires an ethics and safeguarding statement covering consent and assent, privacy, data security, and response protocols for disclosures of harm.

The announcement does not state a deadline, grant size range, number of awards, or selection timeline.