OpenAI is set to permit erotic content on its popular chatbot, ChatGPT, as part of what CEO Sam Altman described as a broader effort to “treat adult users like adults.”
In a post on X 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 move could help OpenAI attract more paying subscribers, especially as competition grows among AI chatbot platforms offering personalized and emotionally engaging interactions. However, the decision is also expected to intensify pressure on lawmakers to introduce stricter regulations on AI companions and adult-oriented digital content.
Altman explained that the company initially imposed strict content filters to protect users’ mental health and avoid misuse. “We realise this made it less useful or enjoyable to many users who had no mental health problems, but given the seriousness of the issue we wanted to get this right,” he said.
According to him, OpenAI has since developed better safety tools and is now confident it can “safely relax the restrictions in most cases.” He added that beginning in December, the company will expand age verification and allow “even more, like erotica for verified adults.”
The announcement comes amid rising concern over the emotional and social impact of AI companions. A recent survey by the nonprofit Centre for Democracy and Technology (CDT) found that one in five students said they or someone they know had been involved in a romantic relationship with an AI system.
Nonetheless, critics argue that OpenAI’s decision highlights the need for federal and state regulations governing the ethical use of artificial intelligence. They warn that as AI becomes more human-like, the boundaries between technology and intimacy risk becoming dangerously blurred.
