OpenAI's anticipated "adult mode" for ChatGPT has been delayed, reportedly due to significant internal concerns regarding content moderation and the safeguarding of children. When it eventually launches, this feature is expected to facilitate "saucy" text conversations but will not extend to the chatbot's ability to generate images, voice, or video content. An unnamed OpenAI spokesperson, in an interview with The Wall Street Journal, clarified that the upcoming feature's content would be categorized as "smut" rather than pornography, enabling ChatGPT users to engage in textual chats exploring adult themes.
The feature was initially announced in October, with OpenAI CEO Sam Altman stating that the company had sufficiently addressed "serious mental health issues" within its AI model to ease safety restrictions and introduce "erotica for verified adults." While ChatGPT's adult mode was initially slated for release within the current quarter, OpenAI announced earlier this month that it was postponing the rollout to prioritize other tasks. A new launch timeline has not yet been disclosed.
According to The Wall Street Journal's reporting, the delay also stems from internal apprehension and technical hurdles related to implementing robust safeguards for the feature. A council of advisors, convened by OpenAI, reportedly cautioned the company in January that ChatGPT's adult mode could potentially be accessed by minors and might foster unhealthy emotional dependence on the chatbot. One unnamed council member expressed a stark warning, suggesting OpenAI risked creating a "sexy suicide coach."
Further contributing to the delays are persistent content moderation challenges. Sources familiar with the situation informed The Journal that OpenAI is struggling to relax ChatGPT's restrictions on "not safe for work" (NSFW) content while simultaneously preventing the generation of more harmful scenarios, such as those depicting nonconsensual behavior or child sexual abuse material.
A critical issue identified was the age-prediction system developed by OpenAI to prevent minors from accessing erotica. At one point, this system was found to misclassify approximately 12 percent of minors as adults. Considering that ChatGPT attracts an estimated 100 million users under 18 each week, such an error rate could potentially expose millions of underage individuals to sexualized conversations with the chatbot. An unnamed spokesperson told The Journal that OpenAI's age prediction algorithms perform similarly to others in the industry but acknowledged that they "will never be completely foolproof."
Opting for text-based conversations may offer the ChatGPT-maker an advantage in navigating regulations, such as the UK’s Online Safety Act, which mandates age verification for pornographic images but not for written erotica. This approach also distinguishes OpenAI from rival AI providers offering more visual NSFW experiences. For instance, xAI’s Elon Musk recently announced that Grok’s "spicy" companions and its image and video generator are permitted to produce content "allowed in an R-rated movie."
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