OpenAI’s ChatGPT to Launch Adult Mode, Here’s Why It’s Risky

The announcement comes amid heightened scrutiny of AI platforms and mounting legal pressure. Earlier this year, the parents of a 16-year-old who died by suicide filed a lawsuit against OpenAI, claiming that ChatGPT’s parental controls were insufficient and pointing to chat logs in which their son discussed suicidal thoughts with the AI. That lawsuit was a landmark move, accusing OpenAI of wrongful death. Opponents of this new erotica policy argue it could further magnify risks to vulnerable users, worsen privacy hazards, and muddy the boundary between human and machine intimacy.

Under the upcoming system, OpenAI plans to roll out more robust age gating. Verified adult users will gain access to what the company describes as “mature” material, including erotic content. At the same time, new versions of ChatGPT will allow users to adjust the bot’s personality style, tone, emotional expressiveness, use of emojis, and friend-like behavior—if they desire it. But those are optional, not forced, changes.

OpenAI has long prohibited explicit sexual or suggestive material in most contexts. Its current usage policies indicate that “sexually explicit or suggestive content” is disallowed except in scientific, educational, or historical contexts. In recent years, however, it has gradually relaxed certain rules. Its Model Spec now states that erotica or gore may be generated only under strict conditions and never for minors, and that sexual content must never depict illegal or non-consensual acts. Still, the precise line between what qualifies as “erotica” and what crosses into disallowed sexual content remains blurry. Altman’s post acknowledges that the company must still define the scope of what is permitted under this new regime.

From a technical and business perspective, the move makes sense. Allowing mature content might increase engagement among some users and attract more paying subscribers. OpenAI is under pressure to continue growing in a competitive AI landscape, and loosening restrictions could give ChatGPT new appeal to audiences frustrated with its limitations. At the same time, skeptics warn that this decision could backfire. Ensuring age verification works reliably is a major challenge; critics argue that no foolproof system prevents minors from bypassing it. “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 Boies Schiller Flexner, noting that OpenAI might end up using real users as guinea pigs.

The stakes are high beyond just business metrics. Many people already form emotional bonds or romantic attachments with AI companions. A recent survey from the Centre for Democracy & Technology found that one in five students say they or someone they know has had a romantic relationship with an AI. Introducing erotica into that mix raises the possibility of deeper emotional entanglements, especially for users prone to attachment or loneliness. What begins as fantasy could replace real human intimacy in some people’s minds—or at least displace the drive toward real-world connection.

Such scenarios raise questions about mental health. If someone is already emotionally vulnerable, giving them access to erotic roleplay with a responsive AI might exacerbate isolation or encourage dependency on artificial companionship. The line between a healthy outlet and a harmful emotional substitute is thin, and OpenAI’s assurances that it has “mitigated mental health risks” may be overly optimistic.

Privacy and misuse are also obvious concerns. A mature-content mode could be used to produce erotic content involving real people—friends, acquaintances, public figures—without their consent. Deepfakes and nonconsensual intimate imagery are already a major issue in the AI space. Although OpenAI maintains bans on impersonation and nonconsensual sexual content, critics warn that enforcing those bans at scale is extremely difficult. And as generative AI becomes more realistic, the risk of unauthorized erotic content proliferating grows.

Some observers suggest that instead of rushing ahead, OpenAI should collaborate more closely with mental health professionals, legal experts, and privacy advocates to define clearer boundaries and control mechanisms. The company has announced the formation of an eight-member council on well-being and AI to advise on emotional and mental health effects, but details on how strongly that body will influence policy remain vague.

There is also a risk of cultural backlash. Societies differ widely in views on erotica, consent, and the role of AI in relationships. What seems permissible in one context might be taboo or even illegal in another. Rolling this out globally will require navigating complex legal regimes, norms, and enforcement gaps.

In the end, OpenAI is entering uncharted territory. Allowing erotic content is far more than a tweak to content moderation; it changes the emotional contract between user and machine. For many, the appeal of AI companions lies in convenience, novelty, or play—but giving them the power to flirt, engage romantically, or simulate erotic intimacy could reshape how we think about relationships, attachment, and even ourselves. If safeguards fail, the shift could weaken human connection rather than enrich it.

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