OpenAI Funds $5 Million in Independent Research on AI and Teen Development
OpenAI opened a $5 million grant program to fund independent research on how generative AI affects the lives and development of teenagers.
Details
- Who can apply: researchers 18 or older affiliated with a research institution, or with significant experience in child/adolescent development, human-computer interaction, or related fields; for-profit organizations are not prioritized
- Research scope: interdisciplinary proposals covering teen usage patterns and developmental outcomes, AI’s social/emotional/relational impacts, how effects vary across demographics, and safeguards, design interventions, or policy approaches — open to qualitative, quantitative, experimental, or mixed-methods studies
- Funding terms: individual grants up to $1 million from the $5 million total pool, a 10% overhead cap, and eligible use for student and postdoc support
- Timeline: applications due October 6, 2026, with notifications by November 13, 2026, and an interim progress update required in Q1 2027
- Requirements: proposals must address research questions, methods, study population, ethical safeguards, team expertise, and conflicts of interest, with research involving minors requiring detailed ethics and safeguarding protocols
What happened next
The grant program follows OpenAI’s public support for California’s SB 1119 teen AI safety bill earlier this year, positioning the company as funding the independent evidence base that such policy debates rely on, rather than only shaping the regulatory conversation directly.