October 7, 2026, (Inside AI) — OpenAI is expanding its teen-focused ChatGPT experience with a new College Planner tool, a teen AI advisory council, and enhanced study features, aiming to help students navigate college applications and learning while addressing safety and wellbeing concerns.
The company revealed that since launching ChatGPT for Teens, teens with access sent about 2.7 million more learning-related messages on average than those without. The most selected conversation starters include "ask questions to develop my ideas," "give feedback on my draft," and "help me check my evidence." In one week, nearly 1.2 million teens used Learning Visualizations for math and science, and over 180,000 used Study Mode.
Usage patterns show teens spend under 15 minutes daily on ChatGPT, with less than 2% exceeding three consecutive hours. In almost half of conversations where a break reminder appeared, teens took a break or ended the chat within five minutes. Among those with longer sessions, over 80% had at least one learning-related prompt.
College Planner, coming soon to ChatGPT for Teens, will consolidate application requirements, deadlines, tasks, and financial-aid steps into one plan. It targets US high school students in grades 10-12 planning for four-year colleges, with future expansion to more countries and two-year or technical schools. The tool also helps with financial aid, scholarships, and fee waivers.
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OpenAI is supporting College Advising Corps, a nonprofit placing recent graduates as advisers in under-resourced high schools. The contribution will help expand into new states and create an AI fellowship program for advisers to test AI in college navigation.
Additionally, OpenAI is backing Boston Children's Hospital's Digital Wellness Lab and its Student Advisory Council for three years. For the 2026-27 school year, the Lab will convene about 22 students: roughly 12 ages 14-18 on digital wellbeing projects and 10 ages 16-20 building AI chatbots. They will work with researchers on safety defaults, parental controls, and AI literacy.
New study tools include continuous multi-photo capture to combine notes into a single PDF, available on iOS with Android coming. Flashcards and quizzes can now be generated from uploaded notes, with decks saved in a teen's Library for later practice.
These moves come as AI in education faces scrutiny over data privacy, screen time, and equitable access. OpenAI's teen council aims to give young people a direct voice in product decisions, with the company pledging to report back on changes made based on student feedback.
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While the focus is on learning, the integration of AI into college planning raises questions about over-reliance and the digital divide. OpenAI says it will continue learning from teens, families, and educators to refine protections and share insights as ChatGPT for Teens evolves.
