OpenAI AI and Teen Development Research Grant Program 2026

OpenAI has launched the AI and Teen Development Research Grant Program 2026 to support independent research examining how generative artificial intelligence affects the lives, development and well being of young people between the ages of 13 and 17. The programme is committing up to $5 million in total research funding, with individual grants of up to $1 million available for selected projects.

The research programme seeks to build a stronger evidence base around the ways teenagers use generative AI for learning, creativity, communication and advice, as well as the potential effects of these interactions. OpenAI notes that the impact of AI may differ depending on how young people use it, their individual circumstances, cultural and social environments, and the support available from families, schools, communities and technology providers.

The programme welcomes researchers from different disciplines and countries to investigate both the opportunities and challenges associated with AI use during adolescence. Particular attention is given to social and emotional development, relationships, well being, safeguards, age appropriate design and policy approaches.

About the Opportunity

The AI and Teen Development Research Grant Program is designed to support independent research that can contribute meaningful evidence to discussions about artificial intelligence and adolescent development.

OpenAI is interested in research that can improve understanding of how teenagers interact with generative AI and how those interactions may relate to developmental outcomes. The programme also seeks evidence that can inform the development of safer AI products, safeguards, educational approaches, regulatory strategies and future research.

The programme welcomes interdisciplinary proposals involving fields such as child and adolescent development, psychology, public health, human computer interaction, communication, sociology, anthropology, data science and AI safety.

Researchers may use qualitative, quantitative, experimental, observational, theoretical, participatory or mixed methods approaches. Projects involving teenagers in the design or interpretation of research are also welcome, although this is not required.

Opportunity Benefits

• Individual research grants of up to $1 million

• Up to $5 million in total research funding

• Funding for research involving students, graduate students and postdoctoral researchers

• Opportunity to contribute evidence to discussions about AI and adolescent development

• Potential to inform AI product development, safeguards and age appropriate design

• Opportunity to contribute to policy and regulatory discussions

• Maximum of 10 percent of each grant may support overhead or indirect costs

• Opportunity to make findings publicly available through publications, preprints, public reports or similar formats

Research Areas

Applicants are encouraged to develop proposals addressing one or more of the following areas:

• Emotional development and well being: Emotion regulation, resilience, identity, agency, self esteem and social connection.

• Social development and relationships: Friendships, family relationships, belonging, communication, empathy, social skills and the relationship between AI and human connection.

• Patterns and contexts of AI use: Differences related to time spent using AI, type and purpose of use, age, culture, language, socioeconomic circumstances and other individual factors.

• Differences across populations: How AI related outcomes may vary across developmental stages, cultures, languages, populations and socioeconomic settings.

• Mitigations and age appropriate design: Evaluation of safeguards, product interventions, AI literacy, parental support, educator support and healthy use practices.

• Technical interventions: Research into technical approaches and design choices that may increase benefits or help keep teenagers safer.

Eligibility Criteria

• Applicants must be at least 18 years old.

• Applicants must be affiliated with a research institution or organization, and/or have significant experience relevant to child or adolescent development, well being, human computer interaction, AI impacts or a closely related field.

• Researchers from any country may apply.

• Interdisciplinary research teams are encouraged.

• For profit initiatives are not the primary focus of this programme.

• Research may be conducted in any language.

• Applications must be submitted in English.

Selection Criteria

Proposals will be evaluated based on the quality and relevance of the proposed research. Key considerations include:

• Scientific rigor and appropriateness of the research design

• Relevance to current discussions surrounding artificial intelligence

• Clarity, focus and coherence of the proposal

• Potential to translate findings into practical guidance

• Ethics and safeguarding of minors and other research participants

• Feasibility of completing the proposed project

• Expertise and capability of the research team

• Inclusion and generalizability across populations and contexts

• Complementarity with existing evidence and research

• Independence and credibility of the proposed work

OpenAI also indicates that preference may be given to research involving ChatGPT, interdisciplinary teams, underrepresented populations or regions, and projects capable of producing evidence that could inform policy and regulatory decisions.

Required Application Materials

Applications should be prepared as a single spaced Google document and should include:

• Project summary of less than one page

• Research proposal of no more than three pages, excluding references

• Research questions

• Relevant prior research

• Proposed methods and analysis

• Study population and recruitment strategy

• Evidence of feasibility or access to the proposed study population

• Expected outputs

• Potential limitations

• Explanation of relevance to the programme goals

• Project plan and timeline

• Key activities and milestones

• Expected project completion date

• Requested budget and budget justification

• Major cost categories

• Other committed sources of support

• Project dependencies and potential risks

• Ethics and safeguarding statement where applicable

• Short CVs or biographies of the principal investigator and key team members

• Disclosure of relevant financial relationships, industry funding and potential conflicts of interest

Research involving minors, sensitive information or vulnerable populations should clearly explain the applicable ethical protections and compliance strategy.

How to Apply

1. Review the programme priorities and determine how your proposed research addresses AI and teen development.
2. Develop a focused research question supported by relevant existing evidence.
3. Prepare the research proposal, including methodology, study population, recruitment strategy, expected outputs and limitations.
4. Prepare the project plan, timeline, budget and budget justification.
5. Include the required ethics and safeguarding information, particularly for research involving teenagers or other vulnerable participants.
6. Prepare short CVs or biographies for the principal investigator and key team members.
7. Disclose relevant financial relationships, industry funding and potential conflicts of interest.
8. Format the complete application as a single spaced Google document.
9. Submit the application in English by October 6, 2026, at 11:59 PM Pacific Daylight Time.