OpenAI · 2026-05-07 · major
OpenAI Trusted Contact — ChatGPT Will Alert a Designated Adult If Reviewers Flag a Self-Harm Risk
ChatGPT users can now nominate one adult to be notified if classifiers and trained reviewers detect a serious self-harm risk in their conversations. Reviews target under one hour. Notifications carry no transcript text.
ChatGPT can now message a friend or family member you nominated if its monitors think you may be in a self-harm crisis.
Key specs
| Trusted contacts | 1 adult |
|---|---|
| Min age | 18 (19 in South Korea) |
| Review sla | <1 hour |
| Invite window | 7 days |
What is it?
Trusted Contact is an opt-in ChatGPT setting where an adult user names one person — friend, relative, caregiver — who can be alerted in a possible self-harm emergency. The contact must be 18+ (19+ in South Korea) and must accept an invitation within seven days for the link to activate.
How does it work?
Automated classifiers in ChatGPT watch for conversations indicating a serious self-harm concern. Flagged sessions are escalated to a small team of trained human reviewers, who target under one hour to make a judgement call. If they confirm the risk, ChatGPT offers the user the option to notify their contact, then sends an email, SMS, or in-app push that says only that the topic came up and asks the contact to check in — no chat content is shared.
Why does it matter?
It's the first OpenAI safety feature with a structured human-in-the-loop escalation that reaches outside the product. The launch follows multiple lawsuits from families alleging ChatGPT contributed to suicides, and it sits alongside OpenAI's broader push on sensitive-conversation behavior. Critics note users with multiple accounts can sidestep it, so it's less a hard guardrail than a soft tripwire.
Who is it for?
ChatGPT users worried about themselves or a loved one; trust-and-safety teams watching for an industry pattern.
Try it
Settings → Trusted Contact in ChatGPT (web/iOS/Android)