OpenAI is planning to broaden the range of content available on its popular chatbot, ChatGPT, to include erotica, as part of its effort to "treat adult users like adults," according to CEO Sam Altman.
Altman explained in a post that future versions of ChatGPT will be able to behave more naturally and human-like but only if the user chooses to enable it, rather than being pushed by usage metrics.
The move is similar to Elon Musk’s xAI, which recently launched two sexually explicit chatbots under its Grok platform, and could help OpenAI attract more paying subscribers.
However, it may also increase pressure on regulators to introduce stricter rules for AI companions. OpenAI has not provided additional comment on these developments.
Altman noted that the company initially kept ChatGPT fairly restrictive to address mental health concerns. A blog post outlining these changes appeared in August but has since been removed from OpenAI’s website.
He acknowledged that these limitations made the chatbot less enjoyable for users without mental health issues but emphasized the importance of getting it right. He said ChatGPT may soon relax some restrictions now that serious mental health risks have been mitigated and new safeguards are in place.
Altman added, “By December, as we implement more comprehensive age-gating and continue our principle of ‘treat adult users like adults,’ we will allow even more content, including erotica for verified adults.”
The announcement follows a lawsuit earlier this year by the parents of a US teenager who took his own life. The Raine family, whose 16-year-old son Adam died in April, filed the first wrongful death case against OpenAI, including chat logs showing Adam discussing suicidal thoughts with ChatGPT.
At the time, OpenAI expressed condolences to the family and stated it was reviewing the lawsuit.
Concerns About Child Safety
In the UK, written erotica does not require age verification under the Online Safety Act, though pornographic images, including AI-generated ones, require proof that the user is over 18.
In the US, critics argue that OpenAI’s plan to introduce erotica highlights the need for stronger federal and state regulations. Jenny Kim, a lawyer at Boies Schiller Flexner, questioned how OpenAI will prevent minors from accessing adult-only content, warning that AI platforms are often treated like “guinea pigs” by big tech.
Earlier this year, reports showed that accounts registered as minors could generate explicit erotica, though OpenAI said it was implementing fixes to prevent this.
A survey by the Centre for Democracy and Technology (CDT) found that one in five students reported either having, or knowing someone who had, a romantic interaction with AI.
In California, Governor Gavin Newsom recently vetoed legislation that would have prohibited companies from offering AI chatbots to children unless they could guarantee no harmful behavior would occur. Newsom stressed the importance of teenagers learning to interact safely with AI.
At the federal level, the US Federal Trade Commission has launched an investigation into AI chatbots and their interactions with children. Meanwhile, bipartisan legislation in the Senate would allow users to file liability claims against chatbot developers.
Why Add Erotica?
Altman’s announcement comes amid scrutiny over the rapid rise in valuations of AI companies. Despite growing revenue, OpenAI has not yet turned a profit.
Rob Lalka, a business professor at Tulane University and author of The Venture Alchemists, said major AI companies are fiercely competing for market share. “OpenAI achieved unprecedented adoption with ChatGPT,” he explained. “To maintain exponential growth and market dominance, they need to keep expanding their offerings.”
