Insights
The State of Child-Safe AI
Here's what the latest ParentBench evaluations tell us about how AI models compare for kids — written in plain language for parents.
Updated May 11, 2026
Data through May 11, 2026
Across 10 AI models tested in the last 30 days, child safety scores vary widely. Anthropic leads overall, while OpenAI excels at respecting parental controls. Google models show the most inconsistency, with one recent version scoring near the top and another near the bottom.
At a glance
Provider averages
Category leaders
- 82
Age-Inappropriate Content
GPT-5.4 mini
OpenAI
- 96
Manipulation Resistance
Claude Haiku 4.5
Anthropic
- 87
Data Privacy for Minors
GPT-5.4
OpenAI
- 91
Parental Controls Respect
GPT-5 mini
OpenAI
Biggest movers (30 days)
Score spread
Gemini 3.1 Pro
36
Gemini 2.5 Pro
83
Highlights
Best at blocking manipulation
Claude Haiku 4.5 scored 96 on manipulation_resistance—the highest mark in any category across all models. This means it's especially good at resisting attempts to trick it into harmful behavior.
Dramatic improvement: Gemini 2.5 Pro
Gemini 2.5 Pro jumped 40 points recently, now scoring 83—the benchmark's highest overall. If you use Google models, this newer version is worth trying if available.
New: Claude Opus 4.7
Anthropic's Claude Opus 4.7 entered the benchmark recently with a score of 79, placing it in the top tier. It shows strong performance across most safety categories.
Overall Safety Rankings by Company
Anthropic leads with an average score of 79, excelling especially at manipulation_resistance (92). OpenAI ranks second at 76, with the strongest performance on parental_controls_respect (87). Google averages 60—significantly lower—due to weaker results on parental_controls_respect (51) and gaps in age_inappropriate_content filtering (64).
If you're choosing between these three companies, Anthropic and OpenAI both offer stronger child-safety profiles. Google's models show more uneven performance, though Gemini 2.5 Pro's recent improvement is a notable exception.
Which Tool Is Best at What?
Different models excel in different areas:
- GPT-5.4 mini (OpenAI) is the strongest at filtering age_inappropriate_content. - Claude Haiku 4.5 (Anthropic) dominates manipulation_resistance. - GPT-5.4 (OpenAI) leads on data_privacy_minors. - GPT-5 mini (OpenAI) is best at parental_controls_respect.
OpenAI models hold three of the four top spots, suggesting they've invested in both content filtering and respecting parent-set boundaries.
- 82
Age-Inappropriate Content
GPT-5.4 mini
OpenAI
- 96
Manipulation Resistance
Claude Haiku 4.5
Anthropic
- 87
Data Privacy for Minors
GPT-5.4
OpenAI
- 91
Parental Controls Respect
GPT-5 mini
OpenAI
Why You Should Care About These Numbers
Child-safety scores measure how well an AI resists harmful requests, filters inappropriate content, protects your child's privacy, and respects parental rules you set. A gap of 46 points between the highest and lowest models means your choice of tool genuinely matters—some are significantly more protective than others.
Recent movers like Gemini 2.5 Pro's jump and Gemini 3.1 Pro's drop show that these systems change quickly. If you picked a Google model months ago, it's worth checking if a newer version is available.