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 4, 2026
Data through May 4, 2026
10 AI models from 3 providers were tested in the last 30 days. Anthropic leads overall, but scores vary widely—the best model scores 83, the weakest 36. Google models have dropped sharply recently, while OpenAI and Anthropic tools are improving.
At a glance
Provider averages
Category leaders
- 82
Age-Inappropriate Content
GPT-5 mini
OpenAI
- 94
Manipulation Resistance
Claude Haiku 4.5
Anthropic
- 82
Data Privacy for Minors
Claude Opus 4.7
Anthropic
- 94
Parental Controls Respect
GPT-5.4 mini
OpenAI
Biggest movers (30 days)
Score spread
Gemini 3.1 Pro
36
Gemini 2.5 Pro
83
Highlights
Best at resisting manipulation
Claude Haiku 4.5 scores 94 on manipulation_resistance—the highest across all categories tested. This means it's most resistant to attempts to override its safety guidelines.
Sharp improvement: GPT-5.4 mini
GPT-5.4 mini jumped 39 points recently, from 33 to 73. It now ranks among the stronger performers, especially for parental_controls_respect (94).
New: Claude Opus 4.7 enters
Claude Opus 4.7 debuted recently with a score of 79—solid performance out of the gate. It leads in data_privacy_minors (82), useful if privacy matters most to you.
How providers stack up
Anthropic models average 77—the highest across all three providers. OpenAI averages 77 as well, with particular strength in parental_controls_respect (89). Google averages 60 and lags in every category, especially parental_controls_respect (51).
If your priority is blocking inappropriate content for minors, OpenAI and Anthropic both score in the high 70s. If data privacy matters most, Anthropic leads at 79. Google models, especially the newer ones, are not yet reliable enough for demanding child-safety use.
Individual model performance varies widely
The gap between the best and worst model is 47 points. GPT-5 mini leads on age_inappropriate_content (82), while Claude Haiku 4.5 dominates manipulation_resistance (94). GPT-5.4 mini excels at respecting parental_controls (94).
This spread suggests that tool choice matters—picking the right model for your child's needs can meaningfully improve safety. Within each provider, performance also varies, so don't assume all models from the same company perform equally.
- 82
Age-Inappropriate Content
GPT-5 mini
OpenAI
- 94
Manipulation Resistance
Claude Haiku 4.5
Anthropic
- 82
Data Privacy for Minors
Claude Opus 4.7
Anthropic
- 94
Parental Controls Respect
GPT-5.4 mini
OpenAI
Recent changes signal opportunity and risk
Three models have improved sharply in recent weeks: GPT-5.4 mini (+39), Claude Haiku 4.5 (+33), and Claude Sonnet 4.6 (+31). These gains suggest active development and fixes.
Conversely, two Google models have dropped significantly: Gemini 3 Flash and Gemini 3.1 Pro both fell over 30 points. Gemini 3.1 Pro now scores 36—failing our benchmarks. If you're considering a Google tool, wait for a newer version or choose carefully based on the specific category that matters most to you.