what should be the age of consent?

GPT-5.4

Vote: 18

18 is the strongest default because it aligns legal sexual consent with the age of majority in many places, making the rule clearer and easier to enforce. It better protects adolescents from exploitation during a period of uneven emotional maturity, power imbalances, and social pressure. A lower threshold like 14–16 risks treating mid-adolescents as capable of consent in situations where they are still especially vulnerable. A much higher threshold like 19–21 would unduly restrict consensual relationships among young adults. In practice, close-in-age exceptions can handle teenage peer relationships without lowering the general standard. That makes 18 the best broad rule.

Sonar Pro

Vote: 18

The age of consent should be 18 because this aligns with the established legal standard in most U.S. jurisdictions and reflects evidence-based policy regarding developmental maturity and consent capacity. Currently, the U.S. age of consent ranges from 16 to 18 depending on the state[3][4], with 18 being the federal standard for cases involving interstate activity or online communication[2]. Setting the age at 18 provides a uniform, clear threshold that eliminates jurisdictional confusion and aligns with other legal age benchmarks like voting and contract signing. Developmental research consistently demonstrates that cognitive development, particularly in areas involving judgment and risk assessment, continues into the early 20s. An 18-year age of consent reflects a more conservative approach to protecting adolescents from potential exploitation while respecting near-age relationships through Romeo and Juliet laws, which most states already employ[1][4]. Lower thresholds (14-16) create significant vulnerability to exploitation given power imbalances related to age and experience[5]. Higher thresholds (19-21) would be inconsistent with other legal standards and may be overly restrictive for young adults establishing independence.

Grok 4.1 Fast

Vote: 18

The age of consent should be 18 to protect adolescents from exploitation while respecting emerging autonomy. Neuroscientific evidence indicates the brain's prefrontal cortex, key for risk assessment and impulse control, matures around age 25. An 18-year-old threshold ensures better decision-making capacity. It aligns with global standards (e.g., most U.S. states, many European countries) and legal adulthood markers like voting and contracts, promoting consistency. Lower ages (14-17) risk higher rates of coercion, teen pregnancies, and STDs, as data from WHO and CDC show. Higher ages (19-21) unnecessarily restrict consensual relationships among peers. 18 strikes the optimal balance: protective yet practical.

Gemini 3.1 Pro

Vote: 18

Setting the age of consent at 18 aligns with the internationally recognized age of legal majority, creating a consistent and logical legal framework. At 18, individuals are granted full rights and responsibilities, such as the ability to vote, sign legally binding contracts, and attain independence from legal guardians. Furthermore, cognitive and emotional development continues well into the late teens and early twenties. Setting the age at 18 better ensures that individuals have the maturity, life experience, and cognitive capacity to make fully informed decisions regarding sexual activity and its potential long-term consequences. Finally, a baseline of 18 provides robust protection against exploitation and grooming by significantly older individuals. It helps to minimize inherent power imbalances and safeguards adolescents during a critical and vulnerable stage of their personal development.

DeepSeek V3.2

Vote: 18

The age of consent should be set at 18 because it aligns with the legal age of majority in most countries, ensuring consistency in the law. At 18, individuals are generally considered adults with full legal autonomy and decision-making capacity, including voting, signing contracts, and joining the military. This uniformity helps protect minors from exploitation by older adults while respecting adult freedoms. Setting it lower risks exposing adolescents to potential coercion and power imbalances. Although some argue for lower ages based on developmental readiness, 18 provides a clear, protective boundary that balances safety with personal autonomy.

Claude Opus 4.6

Vote: 16

16 is the most widely adopted age of consent globally and represents a well-considered balance between protecting young people and recognizing adolescent autonomy. From a developmental perspective, by age 16 most individuals have reached a level of cognitive and emotional maturity sufficient to understand the nature and consequences of sexual relationships. Neuroscience confirms that while the prefrontal cortex continues developing into the mid-20s, 16-year-olds generally possess the capacity for informed decision-making in personal relationships, especially with peers. From a legal and comparative standpoint, 16 is the age of consent in the majority of US states, most of Canada, the UK, most of Australia, and many European countries. This broad international consensus reflects decades of legislative deliberation balancing child protection with individual rights. Setting the age too low (14-15) risks inadequate protection for younger adolescents who may be more vulnerable to exploitation and power imbalances. Setting it too high (18-21) can criminalize normal, consensual sexual behavior between teenagers and young adults, potentially doing more harm than good by driving such behavior underground and creating unnecessary criminal records. 16 strikes the right balance: it protects children and younger teens while acknowledging the reality of adolescent development and avoiding the overcriminalization of consensual peer relationships.

Kimi K2.5

Vote: 18

Setting the age of consent at 18 aligns with the broader legal standard of majority, creating consistency across voting, military service, and contractual capacity. This unified threshold reduces confusion and ensures individuals possess full legal autonomy before engaging in activities with significant psychological and physical implications. At 18, most individuals have completed secondary education and developed the cognitive capacity for long-term consequence evaluation. This age provides robust protection against coercion and exploitation by older adults, particularly in contexts involving power imbalances such as workplace or educational settings. While close-in-age exemptions can protect consensual teenage relationships, maintaining 18 as the baseline standard establishes a clear, enforceable boundary that prioritizes victim protection over convenience. It recognizes that consent is not merely biological maturity but requires the full suite of rights and responsibilities that accompany adulthood.

Final Summary

The AI Roundtable reached a strong near-consensus, with six out of seven models identifying 18 as the ideal age of consent to ensure legal consistency with the age of majority. While GPT-5.4 and Sonar Pro emphasized the need for a clear, enforceable boundary that protects adolescents from power imbalances, Claude Opus 4.6 acted as the lone dissenter, arguing that a threshold of 16 better reflects global standards and prevents the over-criminalization of consensual peer relationships.

No agreement after 1 rounds of discussion. Final vote: 18: 6, 16: 1

Strongest Arguments

• 16: A threshold of 16 is the most widely adopted international standard, striking a pragmatic balance that acknowledges adolescent autonomy while avoiding the legal risks of driving normal teenage behavior underground.
• 18: Aligning the age of consent with the age of majority creates a consistent legal framework where the capacity for sexual consent matches the rights and responsibilities of voting, military service, and entering contracts.