OpenAI bets on families as ChatGPT goes deeper into households

OpenAI is expanding its focus beyond individual users to families, as evidenced by a new job posting for a product manager in San Francisco dedicated to building experiences for families, caregivers, and older adults. This move comes as ChatGPT's user base broadens; data from Sensor Tower shows the share of users aged 35 and older rose to 31% in Q2 2026 from 26% a year earlier, while in the U.S., nearly one in four smartphone users who are parents used ChatGPT during the quarter, up from 16%. Industry analysts see this as a natural evolution for OpenAI, similar to how Google, Apple, and Meta adapted their platforms for household use. However, this shift also introduces new trust and safety challenges, particularly regarding younger users. Stephen Balkam of the Family Online Safety Institute noted that the hiring reflects a necessary "safety by redesign," as new research indicates parents underestimate how often their children use generative AI. OpenAI faces lawsuits from parents alleging harm to their children and has introduced safety measures like parental controls for teen accounts in response.