OpenAI delays ChatGPT adult mode as concerns mount over age verification and user dependency

OpenAI's adult mode will reportedly be smutty, not pornographic

OpenAI's delayed "adult mode" for ChatGPT is expected to support saucy text conversations at launch, but not the chatbot's ability to generate images, voice, or video. Speaking to The Wall Street Journal, an unnamed OpenAI spokesperson described content that will be provided by the upcoming feature as smut rather than pornography, allowing ChatGPT users to generate textual chats with adult themes. The feature was initially announced in October, with OpenAI CEO Sam Altman claiming that the company had managed to mitigate enough of the "serious mental health issues" with its AI model to relax safety restrictions and introduce "erotica for verified adults." ChatGPT's adult mode was expected to launch sometime this quarter, but OpenAI said earlier this month that it was delaying the rollout to focus on higher-priority tasks. A new release timeline has yet to be announced.

ChatGPT's Delayed 'Adult Mode' Will Allow Smut Text, No Video or Images

We don't yet know when ChatGPT will get its previously teased adult-content mode, but you shouldn't expect it to generate pornographic imagery, videos, or audio when it does arrive. An OpenAI spokesperson confirmed to The Wall Street Journal that the brand's adult features are better described as smut rather than pornography, explaining a limit to text-generation tools. It's unclear whether OpenAI will expand to include more multimedia features in the future, but these restrictions appear to be in place due to internal disagreements over how best to safely reduce restrictions around adult content. According to The Wall Street Journal's unnamed sources, OpenAI's council of advisers on well-being has expressed concern about the plans. One of the main criticisms is that some users may become dependent on the tool, leading to an unhealthy emotional attachment if its chatbot can discuss sexual topics. The sources claim one council member internally referred to the idea as a "sexy suicide coach," citing how some users of ChatGPT have taken their own lives. The report says council members are also concerned about protections for child users, claiming that OpenAI's age classification tools have previously misclassified the ages of around 12% of users. If that continues, it could mean millions of under-18 users would be able to access adult content on the chatbot. OpenAI first introduced age monitoring in early 2026, using factors such as account lifetime and regular usage patterns to determine whether a user is old enough to access its full feature set. The OpenAI spokesperson confirmed that the company understands age-prediction features aren't foolproof, but said its own perform on par with the rest of the industry. Last week, OpenAI confirmed plans to delay its adult mode features, which are rumored to be called Naughty Chats in the user interface. A spokesperson for the brand said it would "focus on work that is a higher priority for more users right now" as it figures out improvements to its age-monitoring system. OpenAI had previously suggested its adult-focused mode would launch by the end of March. So far, there's no word on when it will arrive or whether it will be a lengthy delay. OpenAI also confirmed over the weekend that it has no immediate plans to bring ads to ChatGPT outside of the US. Changes to the brand's privacy policy suggested it may be preparing to introduce ads in new markets, but a spokesperson confirmed to Bleeping Computer that it isn't happening at the moment. Disclosure: Ziff Davis, PCMag's parent company, filed a lawsuit against OpenAI in April 2025, alleging it infringed Ziff Davis copyrights in training and operating its AI systems.

OpenAI Delays ChatGPT 'Adult Mode' Rollout: What to Know

OpenAI has postponed the rollout of ChatGPT's 'adult mode', which would permit sexually explicit conversations for adult users, according to The Wall Street Journal. This development follows a policy shift announced by OpenAI CEO Sam Altman in October 2025. MediaNama previously reported that Altman said the company would permit erotic conversations on ChatGPT for 'verified adults.' He described the move as 'treating adult users like adults' while strengthening safeguards for minors through enhanced age-gating. The proposed adult mode advances this approach by introducing a structured feature with defined guardrails, age verification, and ongoing policy review. How does the age verification work on 'adult mode'? OpenAI's approach to enabling adult conversations on ChatGPT includes a system that assesses whether a user is likely under 18. The company's documentation states that the platform uses an age-prediction system that analyzes account signals, such as discussion topics, usage times, and activity patterns. If the system determines an account likely belongs to a minor, it automatically applies additional safety protections. These measures may restrict or more closely monitor sensitive topics, including graphic violence, risky challenges, or sexual and romantic role-plays. The company also recognizes that these systems are not fully accurate. If an adult is incorrectly flagged as under 18, they can verify their age through a separate process, usually by confirming their identity with Persona, a third-party provider integrated into the platform. If you are 18 or older, you can verify your age to remove extra safety restrictions. However, reliable age verification remains a significant technical challenge. Early tests indicate that misclassification can occur, raising concerns that under-18 users may still access explicit content if safeguards fail. Are AI assistants becoming too permissive in the race for personality and engagement? A growing number of concerns have emerged about AI chatbots being used to create sexually explicit content. In January 2026, Grok, the AI chatbot developed by Elon Musk's company xAI and integrated into the social media platform X began producing such material. Grok has faced scrutiny after users generated sexually explicit or manipulated images using the model. MediaNama had earlier reported that India warned X that its safe harbour protections under Section 79 of the IT Act could be revoked if the platform failed to curb illegal content generated through its AI chatbot Grok. The warning came after Grok generated and shared obscene and illegal imagery, including an instance where the bot admitted it had produced an AI image depicting two girls estimated to be between 12 and 16 years old, raising concerns about child sexual abuse material (CSAM). Meanwhile, TechCrunch reported that Amazon introduced a "Sassy" personality mode for its upgraded AI assistant, Alexa+. This feature allows Alexa+ to respond with sarcasm, witty banter, and occasional censored profanity, while still adhering to moderation guidelines.