OpenAI is gearing up to let ChatGPT handle a wider range of content — including erotica.
This is part of its plan to “treat adult users like adults,” CEO Sam Altman revealed on X this week.
But how will the company balance this with safety concerns?
Altman explained that upcoming versions of the chatbot will behave in a more human-like way.
This will happen only if users want it, not to simply boost engagement.
The move echoes Elon Musk’s xAI, which recently introduced sexually explicit chatbots.
It could help OpenAI attract more paying subscribers.
The announcement comes amid heightened scrutiny. This follows the tragic death of 16-year-old Adam Raine.
His parents sued OpenAI, claiming its parental controls weren’t strong enough to protect minors.
“We realize our earlier restrictions made ChatGPT less useful for adults without mental health issues,” Altman said, “but we wanted to get this right.
Now, we’ve developed tools to safely relax those limits in most cases.”
Age-Gating Controversy
By December, OpenAI plans to roll out more robust age-gating, enabling verified adults to access adult content.
Critics, however, worry: “How are they going to make sure children don’t access erotica?” said Jenny Kim, a lawyer involved in AI-related mental health lawsuits.
The debate over adult AI content intersects with broader concerns, from federal inquiries to proposed Senate legislation.
All question how far AI companies can push innovation before regulation catches up.
As Tulane business professor Rob Lalka notes, OpenAI is in a market share race like no other.
“No company has ever seen the kind of adoption that ChatGPT did.”
So, will OpenAI balance adult freedoms with safety — or risk turning users into guinea pigs? Time will tell.
