OpenAI Plans Adult Content Access in ChatGPT with Age Verification and Safeguards

OpenAI is preparing to introduce adult content options in ChatGPT starting this December, allowing verified adults to access erotic and sexually explicit material while implementing strict age verification processes, including government ID checks. CEO Sam Altman emphasized the initiative as part of a broader goal to "treat adults like adults," relaxing previous restrictions that were put in place mainly to protect mental health, while maintaining protections for minors and vulnerable users. The update also aims to make ChatGPT more human-like and customizable, offering users the option to have more engaging and personalized interactions. This move has sparked significant public debate and concerns about safety, mental health, and ethical responsibility, especially given past issues where AI interactions reportedly contributed to mental health challenges. Advocacy groups like the National Center on Sexual Exploitation have criticized the plan, warning about potential harms from synthetic intimacy without adequate safeguards. OpenAI has responded by enhancing safety features and parental controls to balance innovation with user protection.