As reported by TechCrunch, on May 7, 2026, OpenAI formally introduced the 'Trusted Contacts' feature. This innovative function enables adult users, those aged 18 and over, to appoint friends or family members as emergency contacts within their accounts. In scenarios where the system identifies a user as being at a considerable risk of self-harm, it promptly alerts their pre-selected contacts through text message or email, thereby encouraging immediate attention and care. The primary objective of this feature is to establish a multi-layered safety protection network, acting as an additional layer of support alongside the already existing localized help hotlines.
