OpenAI’s ChatGPT has rolled out a festive Santa Mode, but there’s a twist: it’s exclusively for users aged 13 and older. As per a disclaimer, the merry Santa voice is confined to age groups that *might* be starting to doubt Santa Claus’s reality.

The holiday-themed Santa Mode was revealed during OpenAI’s latest livestream, which also showcased new visual capabilities for ChatGPT. For ChatGPT Plus and Pro users, Santa’s resounding, joyful baritone is one of the voice choices offered in Advanced Voice Mode, infusing a dose of holiday cheer into their conversations.

Nonetheless, OpenAI has faced some backlash for restricting Santa Mode to teens and adults, effectively excluding younger children from the festivities. While this may appear somewhat “Grinch-like,” there’s a rationale behind the age limitation. OpenAI’s terms of service dictate that users must be at least 13 years old—or comply with the minimum age set in their country—to utilize its offerings. Moreover, users below 18 require parental or legal guardian consent to engage with the platform. A representative confirmed to *Mashable* that this age restriction is applicable to all of ChatGPT, including Santa Mode.

The age restriction is justifiable considering the possible dangers of AI disseminating harmful or erroneous information. Still, it provokes an amusing inquiry: what sort of “adult” content could Santa Mode potentially produce? OpenAI has established safeguards to block inappropriate content and curb misuse, but creating a genuinely kid-friendly version of Santa Mode would have offered a more inclusive alternative.

Parents can still utilize Santa Mode with their kids, or tech-savvy pre-teens can interact with Santa under adult supervision. However, this workaround somewhat dilutes the magic, as Santa Mode seems more like a gimmick for grown-ups already privy to the “world’s greatest conspiracy.”

For the time being, we will be exploring the limits of Santa Mode to uncover just how “mature” it can become.