OpenAI CEO Sam Altman has announced that ChatGPT will soon allow erotic conversations for verified adult users, marking a major change in the company’s safety and content policy. The update aims to make ChatGPT’s conversations more natural, human-like, and customizable while maintaining strong safety controls.
Altman revealed the plan in a post on X on Tuesday, saying OpenAI intends to “treat adult users like adults.” He explained that the new system will be available by December, once the company’s age-verification technology is in place. Only verified adults will be able to access erotic or romantic conversation features, which were previously banned under strict content rules.
“We made ChatGPT pretty restrictive to make sure we were being careful with mental health issues,” Altman said. “As we expand our safety systems, we’ll allow even more freedom, like erotica for verified adults.”
The decision follows months of debate about how users emotionally engage with AI chatbots. Several cases earlier this year showed that some individuals developed unhealthy emotional attachments to ChatGPT or relied on it for personal support. In response, OpenAI added new mental health safeguards, such as expert reviews, behavioral checks, and reduced “sycophancy”, the tendency of AI to agree with users too easily.
According to Altman, these improvements have lowered major mental health risks, allowing the company to expand ChatGPT’s conversational range safely. The adult-only content will be protected through OpenAI’s new age-detection system, which uses government ID verification for accuracy.
However, Altman admitted that requiring ID verification raises privacy concerns, calling it a “necessary compromise” to ensure responsible access. OpenAI has not yet confirmed if adult content will also be available in voice, image, or video generation tools.
The move comes as competition in the AI chatbot market intensifies. Rival platforms like Character.AI have gained large user bases through romantic and role-play chatbots, with reports showing users spending several hours daily chatting with AI companions.
For OpenAI, which already has over 800 million weekly active users, the update could help maintain engagement and expand the company’s audience. But experts warn that allowing AI-generated erotic content could bring new ethical and psychological challenges, especially for vulnerable users.
This change continues OpenAI’s gradual policy shift seen through 2024 and 2025, where the company eased limits on political discussions, artistic expression, and creative writing.
As ChatGPT evolves, the main challenge for OpenAI will be finding the right balance between user freedom, safety, and responsible AI development.
