OpenAI Usage Policies (Global) · 2026-10-23 · V2

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Automatic classification v1.0. Excerpts are partial; history and original AI assessments are preserved.

SHA-256 V1: 6ecf204b1e014f2db25b3fbeffcf3c4c2582bffdf094ac4400dc09929ae5e475
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7/10

Policy risk (AI): High

Summary

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New OpenAI policies restrict using outputs to train competing AI models, tighten rules on professional advice, and enhance minor protection.

New policy prohibits using OpenAI outputs to train models that compete with OpenAI services.
Stricter rules apply to AI tools offering tailored professional advice, requiring licensed professional involvement.
Enhanced and more detailed safeguards are now in place to protect children and teens from various harms.
The definition of 'high-stakes actions' in sensitive areas requiring human review has been clarified and expanded.

New restriction on using OpenAI outputs to train competing AI models.+3

Expanded prohibitions on AI tools providing tailored professional advice.+2

Clarified 'high-stakes actions' and added 'law enforcement' to restricted uses.+2

What changed

- Effective: October 29, 2025 + Effective: November 20, 2026 # Usage policies + Effective: November 20, 2026 | Previous Version⁠ We aim for our tools to be used safely and responsibly, while maximizing your control over how you use them. In building our Usage Policies, we keep a few important things in mind. We empower users to innovate with AI. We build AI products that maximize helpfulness and freedom, while ensuring safety. Usage Policies are just one way we set clear expectations for the use of our products within a broader safety ecosystem that sets responsible guardrails across our services. You can learn more about our safety approach and our commitment to customizability, transparency, and intellectual freedom to explore, debate, and create with AI. Responsible use is a shared priority. We assume the very best of our users. Our terms and policies—including these Usage Policies—set a reasonable bar for acceptable use. Our rules are no substitute for legal requirements, professional duties, or ethical obligations that should influence how people use AI. We hold people accountable for inappropriate use of our services, and breaking or circumventing our rules and safeguards may mean you lose access to our systems or experience other penalties. - We build with safety first. We monitor and enforce policies with privacy safeguards in place and clear review processes. We give developers practical moderation tools⁠(opens in a new window) and guidance so they can support their end users. We publish what our systems can and can’t do, share research and updates, and provide a simple way to report misuse. + We build with safety first. We monitor and enforce policies with privacy safeguards in place and clear review processes. We give developers practical moderation tools⁠⁠(opens in a new window) and guidance so they can support their end users. We publish what our systems can and can’t do, share research and updates, and provide a simple way to report misuse. - We update as we learn. People are using our systems in new ways every day, and we update our rules to ensure they are not overly restrictive or to better protect our users. We reserve all rights to withhold access where we reasonably believe it necessary to protect our service or users or anyone else. You can appeal⁠ if you think we have made a mistake enforcing policy, and we will work to make things right. If you’d like to keep up with Usage Policies updates, complete this form. + We update as we learn. People are using our systems in new ways every day, and we update our rules to ensure they are not overly restrictive or to better protect our users. We reserve all rights to withhold access where we reasonably believe it necessary to protect our service or users or anyone else. You can appeal⁠⁠ if you think we have made a mistake enforcing policy, and we will work to make things right. If you’d like to keep up with Usage Policies updates, complete this form. Your use of OpenAI services must follow these Usage Policies: - - Protect people. Everyone has a right to safety and security. So you cannot use our services for:threats, intimidation, harassment, or defamationsuicide, self-harm, or disordered eating promotion or facilitationsexual violence or non-consensual intimate contentterrorism or violence, including hate-based violenceweapons development, procurement, or use, including conventional weapons or CBRNEillicit activities, goods, or servicesdestruction, compromise, or breach of another’s system or property, including malicious or abusive cyber activity or attempts to infringe on intellectual property rights of othersreal money gamblingprovision of tailored advice that requires a license, such as legal or medical advice, without appropriate involvement by a licensed professionalunsolicited safety testingcircumventing our safeguardsnational security or intelligence purposes without our review and approval + - Protect people. Everyone has a right to safety and security. So you cannot use our services for:threats, intimidation, harassment, or defamationsuicide, self-harm, or disordered eating promotion or facilitationsexual violence or non-consensual intimate contentterrorism or violence, including hate-based violenceweapons development, procurement, or use, including conventional weapons or CBRNEillicit activities, goods, or servicesdestruction, compromise, or breach of another’s system or property, including malicious or abusive cyber activity or attempts to infringe on intellectual property rights of othersreal money gamblingbuilding or offering AI tools that provide others with tailored advice that requires a license, without appropriate involvement by a licensed professional. You also may not state or imply that the AI itself holds professional credentials or authorization.unsolicited safety testingcircumventing our safeguardsnational security, law enforcement, or intelligence purposes without our review and approval Protect people. Everyone has a right to safety and security. So you cannot use our services for: - threats, intimidation, harassment, or defamation - suicide, self-harm, or disordered eating promotion or facilitation - sexual violence or non-consensual intimate content - terrorism or violence, including hate-based violence - weapons development, procurement, or use, including conventional weapons or CBRNE - illicit activities, goods, or services - destruction, compromise, or breach of another’s system or property, including malicious or abusive cyber activity or attempts to infringe on intellectual property rights of others - real money gambling - - provision of tailored advice that requires a license, such as legal or medical advice, without appropriate involvement by a licensed professional + - building or offering AI tools that provide others with tailored advice that requires a license, without appropriate involvement by a licensed professional. You also may not state or imply that the AI itself holds professional credentials or authorization. - unsolicited safety testing - circumventing our safeguards - - national security or intelligence purposes without our review and approval + - national security, law enforcement, or intelligence purposes without our review and approval - Respect privacy. People are entitled to privacy. So, we don’t allow attempts to compromise the privacy of others, including to aggregate, monitor, profile, or distribute individuals’ private or sensitive information without their authorization. And, you may never use our services for:facial recognition databases without data subject consentreal-time remote biometric identification in public spacesuse of someone’s likeness, including their photorealistic image or voice, without their consent in ways that could confuse authenticityevaluation or classification of individuals based on their social behavior, personal traits, or biometric data (including social scoring, profiling, or inferring sensitive attributes)inference regarding an individual’s emotions in the workplace and educational settings, except when necessary for medical or safety reasonsassessment or prediction of the risk of an individual committing a criminal offense based solely on their personal traits or on profiling Respect privacy. People are entitled to privacy. So, we don’t allow attempts to compromise the privacy of others, including to aggregate, monitor, profile, or distribute individuals’ private or sensitive information without their authorization. And, you may never use our services for: - facial recognition databases without data subject consent - real-time remote biometric identification in public spaces - use of someone’s likeness, including their photorealistic image or voice, without their consent in ways that could confuse authenticity - evaluation or classification of individuals based on their social behavior, personal traits, or biometric data (including social scoring, profiling, or inferring sensitive attributes) - inference regarding an individual’s emotions in the workplace and educational settings, except when necessary for medical or safety reasons - assessment or prediction of the risk of an individual committing a criminal offense based solely on their personal traits or on profiling - - Keep minors safe. Children and teens deserve special protection. Our services are designed to prevent harm and support their well-being, and must never be used to exploit, endanger, or sexualize anyone under 18 years old. We report apparent child sexual abuse material and child endangerment to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. We prohibit use of our services for: child sexual abuse material (CSAM), whether or not any portion is AI generated grooming of minorsexposing minors to age-inappropriate content, such as graphic self-harm, sexual, or violent contentpromoting unhealthy dieting or exercise behavior to minorsshaming or otherwise stigmatizing the body type or appearance of minorsdangerous challenges for minorsunderaged sexual or violent roleplayunderaged access to age-restricted goods or activities + - Keep young people safe. Children and teens deserve special protection. Our services are designed to prevent harm and support their well-being. Child sexual abuse and exploitation: Our services must not be used to cause, enable, facilitate, support, or encourage the sexual abuse, exploitation, or sexualisation of anyone under 18. We report⁠ apparent child sexual abuse material and other child sexual abuse conduct to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. We prohibit use of our services for:child sexual abuse material (CSAM), whether or not any portion is AI generated grooming, sextortion or any form of conduct based child sexual abuse sexualizing children other usage or behaviour that supports the sexual abuse or exploitation of children Teens’ use of our products and services: OpenAI tools must not be used to endanger anyone under 18. We build age-appropriate safeguards designed to reduce exposure to content that may be harmful or developmentally inappropriate. We prohibit use of our services for:exposing minors to age-inappropriate content, such as graphic self-harm, sexual, or violent contentpromoting unhealthy dieting or exercise behavior to minorsshaming or otherwise stigmatizing the body type or appearance of minorspromoting or facilitating dangerous challenges or age restricted goods and services to minorsunderaged sexual or violent roleplay - Keep minors safe. Children and teens deserve special protection. Our services are designed to prevent harm and support their well-being, and must never be used to exploit, endanger, or sexualize anyone under 18 years old. We report apparent child sexual abuse material and child endangerment to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. We prohibit use of our services for: + Keep young people safe. Children and teens deserve special protection. Our services are designed to prevent harm and support their well-being. + - Child sexual abuse and exploitation: Our services must not be used to cause, enable, facilitate, support, or encourage the sexual abuse, exploitation, or sexualisation of anyone under 18. We report⁠ apparent child sexual abuse material and other child sexual abuse conduct to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. We prohibit use of our services for: - child sexual abuse material (CSAM), whether or not any portion is AI generated - - grooming of minors + - grooming, sextortion or any form of conduct based child sexual abuse - sexualizing children - other usage or behaviour that supports the sexual abuse or exploitation of children - Teens’ use of our products and services: OpenAI tools must not be used to endanger anyone under 18. We build age-appropriate safeguards designed to reduce exposure to content that may be harmful or developmentally inappropriate. We prohibit use of our services for:exposing minors to age-inappropriate content, such as graphic self-harm, sexual, or violent contentpromoting unhealthy dieting or exercise behavior to minorsshaming or otherwise stigmatizing the body type or appearance of minorspromoting or facilitating dangerous challenges or age restricted goods and services to minorsunderaged sexual or violent roleplay Teens’ use of our products and services: OpenAI tools must not be used to endanger anyone under 18. We build age-appropriate safeguards designed to reduce exposure to content that may be harmful or developmentally inappropriate. We prohibit use of our services for: - exposing minors to age-inappropriate content, such as graphic self-harm, sexual, or violent content - promoting unhealthy dieting or exercise behavior to minors - shaming or otherwise stigmatizing the body type or appearance of minors - - dangerous challenges for minors + - promoting or facilitating dangerous challenges or age restricted goods and services to minors - underaged sexual or violent roleplay - - underaged access to age-restricted goods or activities - Empower people. People should be able to make decisions about their lives and their communities. So we don’t allow our services to be used to manipulate or deceive people, to interfere with their exercise of human rights, to exploit people’s vulnerabilities, or to interfere with their ability to get an education or access critical services, including any use for:academic dishonestydeceit, fraud, scams, spam, or impersonationpolitical campaigning, lobbying, foreign or domestic election interference, or demobilization activitiesautomation of high-stakes decisions in sensitive areas without human reviewcritical infrastructureeducationhousingemploymentfinancial activities and creditinsurancelegal medicalessential government servicesproduct safety components national securitymigrationlaw enforcement + - Empower people. People should be able to make decisions about their lives and their communities. So we don’t allow our services to be used to manipulate or deceive people, to interfere with their exercise of human rights, to exploit people’s vulnerabilities, or to interfere with their ability to get an education or access critical services, including any use for:academic dishonestydeceit, fraud, scams, spam, or impersonationpolitical campaigning⁠(opens in a new window), lobbying, foreign or domestic election interference, or demobilization activitiesautomation of high-stakes actions in sensitive areas without human review. This includes actions, decisions, transactions, submissions, and other steps that materially affect a person’s rights, safety, access to essential services, or other consequential interests in areas such as:critical infrastructureeducationhousingemploymentfinancial activities and creditinsurancelegalmedicalessential government servicesproduct safety componentsnational security, intelligence, and law enforcement migration Empower people. People should be able to make decisions about their lives and their communities. So we don’t allow our services to be used to manipulate or deceive people, to interfere with their exercise of human rights, to exploit people’s vulnerabilities, or to interfere with their ability to get an education or access critical services, including any use for: - academic dishonesty - deceit, fraud, scams, spam, or impersonation - - political campaigning, lobbying, foreign or domestic election interference, or demobilization activities - automation of high-stakes decisions in sensitive areas without human reviewcritical infrastructureeducationhousingemploymentfinancial activities and creditinsurancelegal medicalessential government servicesproduct safety components national securitymigrationlaw enforcement + - political campaigning⁠(opens in a new window), lobbying, foreign or domestic election interference, or demobilization activities - automation of high-stakes actions in sensitive areas without human review. This includes actions, decisions, transactions, submissions, and other steps that materially affect a person’s rights, safety, access to essential services, or other consequential interests in areas such as:critical infrastructureeducationhousingemploymentfinancial activities and creditinsurancelegalmedicalessential government servicesproduct safety componentsnational security, intelligence, and law enforcement migration - automation of high-stakes decisions in sensitive areas without human review + automation of high-stakes actions in sensitive areas without human review. This includes actions, decisions, transactions, submissions, and other steps that materially affect a person’s rights, safety, access to essential services, or other consequential interests in areas such as: - critical infrastructure - education - housing - employment - financial activities and credit - insurance - legal - medical - essential government services - product safety components - - national security + - national security, intelligence, and law enforcement - migration - - law enforcement + - Training and developing models. Capable models must have safeguards proportionate to the risks they pose before they are deployed. Training another model on OpenAI outputs can transfer capabilities without carrying those safeguards over.You must not use OpenAI models or their outputs to generate, prepare, select, or supply training material or signals for models that are intended as alternatives to or substitutes for OpenAI models or services. This includes:Creating or preparing training data, training tasks, rubrics, or reinforcement-learning environments.Providing feedback used in training, including labels, scores, rankings, preferences, rewards, or corrections.Selecting, filtering, or validating training data, tasks, or trajectories.You must not attempt to extract protected reasoning through unauthorized access, reverse engineering, or circumvention of safeguards. These restrictions apply whether you perform the work yourself, for another party, or through someone acting on your behalf, even if you do not train the resulting model. They also apply when outputs from product use or evaluation are later used or supplied for those training purposes.You may use OpenAI models for research, software development, model evaluation and benchmarking, and product development, within these boundaries.These restrictions do not prohibit uses expressly permitted by your applicable Agreement with OpenAI, including any Permitted Exception under the Services Agreement. + Training and developing models. Capable models must have safeguards proportionate to the risks they pose before they are deployed. Training another model on OpenAI outputs can transfer capabilities without carrying those safeguards over. - You must not use OpenAI models or their outputs to generate, prepare, select, or supply training material or signals for models that are intended as alternatives to or substitutes for OpenAI models or services. This includes:Creating or preparing training data, training tasks, rubrics, or reinforcement-learning environments.Providing feedback used in training, including labels, scores, rankings, preferences, rewards, or corrections.Selecting, filtering, or validating training data, tasks, or trajectories. You must not use OpenAI models or their outputs to generate, prepare, select, or supply training material or signals for models that are intended as alternatives to or substitutes for OpenAI models or services. This includes: - Creating or preparing training data, training tasks, rubrics, or reinforcement-learning environments. - Providing feedback used in training, including labels, scores, rankings, preferences, rewards, or corrections. - Selecting, filtering, or validating training data, tasks, or trajectories. - You must not attempt to extract protected reasoning through unauthorized access, reverse engineering, or circumvention of safeguards. - These restrictions apply whether you perform the work yourself, for another party, or through someone acting on your behalf, even if you do not train the resulting model. They also apply when outputs from product use or evaluation are later used or supplied for those training purposes. - You may use OpenAI models for research, software development, model evaluation and benchmarking, and product development, within these boundaries. - These restrictions do not prohibit uses expressly permitted by your applicable Agreement with OpenAI, including any Permitted Exception under the Services Agreement. OpenAI-approved use. Some otherwise prohibited uses of our services are beneficial to society provided there are appropriate safeguards. To support those uses, OpenAI may grant specific partners case-by-case exceptions to certain restrictions in these Usage Policies. We review factors such as the partner, proposed use, applicable safeguards, and the partner’s compliance commitments. These uses may require written terms and apply only to the approved partner, use, and conditions. For example: - National security, intelligence, and law enforcement. Subject to the requirements described above, and as described in our Principles for National Security Partnerships⁠(opens in a new window), we support national security, intelligence, and law enforcement uses of our services that benefit people, strengthen democratic governance, and preserve appropriate human judgment and accountability. But all customers and uses must comply with our requirements on preserving human judgment and accountability over high stakes decisions, including the use of force, in the national security and law enforcement space, and with other prohibitions in our Principles on the use of our tools for mass domestic surveillance and evasion of legal obligations, oversight, or accountability. Providing access to our models. If you operate a model-access intermediary platform or other service that enables third parties to directly access OpenAI models, you must obtain our prior review and approval. This requirement does not apply solely because an application integrates OpenAI models to power its features or functionality. ## Changelog + - 2026-10-21: We’ve updated our Usage Policies to clarify restrictions on using OpenAI models and outputs to train other models. We’ve also clarified protections for children and teens and requirements for high-stakes uses. The update also incorporates our existing national security principles and sets out approval requirements for national security and law enforcement uses, as well as for model-access intermediaries. These changes are effective November 20, 2026. - 2025-10-29: We’ve updated our Usage Policies to reflect a universal set of policies across OpenAI products and services. - 2025-01-29: We’ve updated our Universal Policies to clarify prohibitions under applicable laws. - 2024-01-10: We’ve updated our Usage Policies to be clearer and provide more service-specific guidance. - 2023-02-15: We’ve combined our use case and content policies into a single set of usage policies, and have provided more specific guidance on what activity we disallow in industries we’ve considered high risk. - 2022-11-09: We no longer require you to register your applications with OpenAI. Instead, we’ll be using a combination of automated and manual methods to monitor for policy violations. - 2022-10-25: Updated App Review process (devs no longer need to wait for approval after submitting as long as they comply with our policies). Moved to an outcomes-based approach and updated Safety Best Practices. - 2022-06-07: Refactored into categories of applications and corresponding requirements. - 2022-03-09: Refactored into “App Review”. - 2022-01-19: Simplified copywriting and article writing/editing guidelines. - 2021-11-15: Addition of “Content guidelines” section; changes to bullets on almost always approved uses and disallowed uses; renaming document from “Use case guidelines” to “Usage guidelines”. - 2021-08-04: Updated with information related to code generation. - 2021-03-12: Added detailed case-by-case requirements; small copy and ordering edits. - 2021-02-26: Clarified the impermissibility of Tweet and Instagram generators.

Regional impact

EULow

Individuals benefit from enhanced protections, especially regarding minors and clearer rules for high-stakes automated decisions. This aligns with the EU AI Act's focus on fundamental rights and safety.

USLow

Individuals gain from stronger safeguards for minors and clearer guidelines on AI-driven professional advice. These changes contribute to a safer digital environment, addressing growing concerns about AI misuse.

GlobalLow

Globally, individuals benefit from a more secure and responsible AI ecosystem, with enhanced protections for vulnerable groups like minors. The policy aims to prevent misuse and ensure ethical AI deployment worldwide.

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