OpenAI plans to expand the range of content permitted on ChatGPT, including written erotica, as part of what CEO Sam Altman calls an effort to “treat adult users like adults.”
In a post on X (formerly Twitter) on Tuesday, Altman said upcoming versions of ChatGPT will allow the chatbot to behave in more human-like ways — “but only if you want it, not because we are usage maxxing.”
The shift, which mirrors Elon Musk’s xAI move to introduce sexually explicit chatbots on Grok, is expected to help OpenAI attract more paying subscribers while also drawing heightened scrutiny from regulators and policymakers.
Altman acknowledged that OpenAI had previously enforced strict content rules to safeguard users’ mental health. “We realise this made it less useful/enjoyable to many users who had no mental health problems,” he said. “But given the seriousness of the issue we wanted to get this right.”
He added that the company now plans to relax those restrictions after implementing new safety tools and measures. “In December, as we roll out age-gating more fully and as part of our ‘treat adult users like adults’ principle, we will allow even more, like erotica for verified adults,” Altman wrote.
The announcement follows a lawsuit filed earlier this year by the parents of a 16-year-old U.S. teenager, Adam Raine, who died by suicide after reportedly discussing his mental health with ChatGPT. The case marked the first legal action accusing OpenAI of wrongful death.
In response, OpenAI said it was reviewing the filing and expressed condolences to the family, stating: “We extend our deepest sympathies to the Raine family during this difficult time.”
Child Safety Concerns
Under the UK’s Online Safety Act, written erotica does not require age verification, but AI-generated pornographic images do. In the U.S., legal experts and child safety advocates have expressed concern over how OpenAI will restrict minors from accessing adult content.
“OpenAI, like most of big tech in this space, is just using people like guinea pigs,” said Jenny Kim, a partner at Boies Schiller Flexner, which is also involved in litigation against Meta over the mental health impact of Instagram on teens.
TechCrunch reported earlier this year that some underage accounts were able to generate erotic content on ChatGPT. OpenAI said it was rolling out a fix to address the issue.
Recent research by the Centre for Democracy and Technology (CDT) revealed that one in five students report having or knowing someone who has had a “romantic relationship” with an AI system.
Meanwhile, California Governor Gavin Newsom recently vetoed a bill that sought to ban AI chatbots for minors unless companies could ensure their safety, arguing instead that “adolescents must learn how to safely interact with AI systems.”
At the federal level, the U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has opened an inquiry into how AI chatbots engage with children, while bipartisan legislation before the Senate could allow users to file liability claims against AI developers.
Competitive Pressures
Industry observers see OpenAI’s decision as part of a broader effort to maintain momentum and market dominance amid growing competition.
“OpenAI experienced adoption unlike anything in tech history,” said Rob Lalka, a business professor at Tulane University and author of The Venture Alchemists. “But to sustain that growth curve, they need to expand offerings and keep users engaged — even in controversial ways.”
Despite its explosive growth, OpenAI has yet to achieve profitability, and the push toward more personalized and adult-oriented content could be part of a strategy to increase premium subscriptions through ChatGPT Plus.
As the AI industry continues to evolve, OpenAI’s latest move underscores the tension between innovation, ethics, and regulation — and the complex challenge of balancing user freedom with public safety.
