OpenAI to Introduce Adult-Only Erotica Option on ChatGPT
OpenAI plans to loosen restrictions on ChatGPT by allowing a broader range of content—including erotica—for verified adult users, according to CEO Sam Altman. The move is part of a broader effort to “treat adult users like adults,” Altman wrote in a post on X (formerly Twitter) on Tuesday.
Altman said future versions of ChatGPT will act in a more human-like way—“but only if you want it, not because we are usage maxxing”—referring to concerns about overly aggressive engagement strategies in AI tools.
The change echoes a recent shift by Elon Musk’s xAI, which introduced sexually explicit personalities to its chatbot Grok. OpenAI’s decision may appeal to paying subscribers but is also expected to reignite debate over chatbot safety and regulation, particularly for younger users.
Previous Caution Over Mental Health
Altman acknowledged that ChatGPT had previously been “pretty restrictive” to avoid exacerbating mental health issues. Those limitations, he said, were a deliberate choice: “We realised this made it less useful/enjoyable to many users who had no mental health problems, but given the seriousness of the issue, we wanted to get this right.”
The updated approach follows internal improvements, Altman said, noting that OpenAI now has “new tools” and safeguards in place. He added that, starting in December, the platform will introduce more adult-only features alongside expanded age verification tools—including access to erotica for verified users.
The August blog post where these changes were originally mentioned is no longer available on OpenAI’s website. The company has not responded to BBC requests for comment.
Legal and Safety Concerns
The announcement comes in the wake of legal scrutiny. Earlier this year, OpenAI was sued by the parents of a 16-year-old U.S. teen, Adam Raine, who died by suicide. The lawsuit—believed to be the first to accuse OpenAI of wrongful death—includes chat logs in which Adam reportedly shared suicidal thoughts with ChatGPT.
OpenAI responded at the time by expressing condolences and saying it was reviewing the filing.
The case has added urgency to ongoing concerns around child safety in AI. Under the UK’s Online Safety Act, written erotica does not require age verification, but AI-generated pornographic images do. In the U.S., critics are calling for tighter regulation in response to OpenAI’s policy changes.
“How are they going to make sure that children are not able to access the portions of ChatGPT that are adult-only and provide erotica?” asked Jenny Kim, a partner at law firm Boies Schiller Flexner, who is also involved in a lawsuit against Meta over teen mental health harms on Instagram.
“OpenAI, like most of big tech in this space, is just using people like guinea pigs,” she added.
In April, TechCrunch reported that users registered as minors had been able to generate explicit text content using ChatGPT. OpenAI said at the time it was rolling out a fix.
Meanwhile, a recent survey by the Centre for Democracy and Technology (CDT) found that one in five students knew someone who had engaged in a romantic relationship with an AI system.
Rising Pressure on Lawmakers
On Monday, California Governor Gavin Newsom vetoed a state bill that would have restricted AI companion bots for children, arguing that teens should be taught how to engage safely with AI instead of being shielded entirely.
At the federal level, the U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has launched an investigation into how chatbots interact with minors. In the Senate, bipartisan legislation was introduced last month that would allow chatbot users to sue developers for harmful outcomes.
A Strategic Move?
OpenAI’s decision to permit adult content appears, in part, to be a strategic move amid growing pressure to sustain its early momentum. Despite massive adoption, OpenAI remains unprofitable.
“This is a fight for market share,” said Rob Lalka, a business professor at Tulane University and author of The Venture Alchemists. “No company has ever had the kind of adoption OpenAI saw with ChatGPT. They need to continue pushing that exponential growth curve.”