OpenAI to allow erotic content in ChatGPT for verified adults soon

OpenAI will soon allow erotica and sexually explicit conversations in ChatGPT for verified adults, as CEO Sam Altman confirmed age verification is set for December. Altman stated that this change follows the company’s principle of “treating adult users as adults,” giving verified users access to mature content. Developers will also be able to create adult-oriented ChatGPT apps once safety and verification systems are in place, expanding on the “18+ experiences” framework first outlined at DevDay 2025.

Users can expect a new ChatGPT version designed to feel more personable and closer to what users liked about earlier models. OpenAI had previously tightened moderation to reduce mental health risks, but the company has acknowledged that these changes made the chatbot less enjoyable for many users. Responding to these concerns, OpenAI says it has developed better tools to identify users in mental distress and will implement new safety features to reduce sycophancy—limiting ChatGPT's tendency to agree with harmful statements.

To oversee sensitive scenarios, OpenAI has created a well-being and AI council composed of mental health and technology experts, although it remains unclear how the upcoming age verification system will function or whether mature content will also extend to voice or image models. It is also worth noting that OpenAI is not the first company to embrace AI-driven adult content, as other platforms like character.ai and even Grok already offer romantic and role-play interactions.