OpenAI CEO Sam Altman just announced a significant shift for the popular AI-powered ChatGPT platform: the chatbot will soon be able to generate content, including erotica, for verified adult users. This move, part of a broader strategy, signals a notable loosening of the service’s classic content guardrails.
Altman revealed the plan on social media. He stated that as part of the “treat adult users like adults” principle, OpenAI will roll out more comprehensive age-gating by December. Once age verification is fully implemented, the company plans to “allow even more, like erotica for verified adults.”
ChatGPT allowing “erotica”: The rationale behind the policy change
This decision directly contradicts ChatGPT‘s current highly restrictive content policies. The chatbot specifically prohibits Not Safe for Work (NSFW) material in most contexts. Altman explained the initial caution: the first versions of ChatGPT were made “pretty restrictive to make sure we were being careful with mental health issues,” especially concerning younger users.
The initial strict approach succeeded in protecting vulnerable users. However, Altman admitted it made the chatbot “less useful/enjoyable to many users who had no mental health problems.” Now, the company claims new safety features and updated tools allow them to “safely relax the restrictions in most cases.” This effectively opened the door for more personal and complex adult interactions.
Competing in the companion market
The policy change comes at a sensitive time for the AI giant. OpenAI has faced increasing pressure from competitors like Elon Musk’s xAI, which already offers chatbot companions with “NSFW support” via Grok AI. For OpenAI, whose revenue growth is crucial despite never having been profitable. So, relaxing these rules could help attract more paying subscribers who seek more types of interactions.
That said, the pursuit of growth is already colliding with calls for regulation. OpenAI recently came under increased scrutiny following a lawsuit from a California couple who alleged ChatGPT contributed to their 16-year-old son’s suicide. Furthermore, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is currently conducting an inquiry into several tech companies, including OpenAI, over potential mental health risks posed to children. In response to these concerns, the company simultaneously announced an expert council on well-being and AI to guide its future safety approach.
Beyond the content changes, Altman also confirmed that an upcoming version of the chatbot will allow users to better dictate its personality and tone. Users will be able to tell ChatGPT to respond in a “human-like way,” use a specific tone, or “act like a friend,” cementing the platform’s role as a versatile companion.
