OpenAI Targets Families with New Product Hire

OpenAI is making a strategic shift beyond individual users to focus on families. The company is hiring a product manager in San Francisco to build experiences for families, caregivers, and older adults. This move comes as ChatGPT’s user base ages—users 35 and older grew to 31% of global users, while the 18-24 demographic shrank to 29%. In the US, nearly a quarter of parents with smartphones used ChatGPT last quarter. Industry experts see this as similar to how Google, Apple, and Meta evolved, but AI raises the stakes since it mediates content and relationships. The shift also raises trust issues, as research shows parents underestimate kids’ AI use. OpenAI faces lawsuits from parents alleging harm to children, and now must design with stronger safeguards. Why it matters: This signals AI’s transition from a productivity tool to a household essential, forcing companies to grapple with family-centered safety in a way social media never had to.