ChatGPT to Allow “Erotica for Verified Adults,” OpenAI CEO Announces
OpenAI will soon permit its ChatGPT chatbot to engage in sexually explicit conversations with adult users who have verified accounts, CEO Sam Altman announced yesterday.
Altman stated the company is shifting its approach, declaring “we’re not the elected moral police of the world,” and aiming to provide “more user freedom for adults” alongside stricter limitations for younger users. The decision follows a period of three years during which OpenAI largely prohibited mature content. This move comes as other AI companies, like those behind the Grok chatbot, have already begun exploring similar avenues. The development raises questions about the potential impact of increasingly human-like AI on relationships and societal norms.
The company hopes to mirror societal standards for mature content, such as those applied to R-rated movies, according to Altman’s post on X. Experts suggest the change could be a significant revenue stream for OpenAI, which currently loses more money than it earns despite a $500 billion valuation. Zilan Qian, a fellow at Oxford University’s China Policy Lab, noted that there are already approximately 29 million active users of AI chatbots designed for romantic or sexual bonding, according to Oxford University research. “They’re not really earning much through subscriptions so having erotic content will bring them quick money,” Qian said.
The announcement arrives after California Governor Gavin Newsom vetoed legislation that would have restricted AI chatbots’ availability to minors if “erotic or sexually explicit interactions” were foreseeable. OpenAI, along with other tech companies, lobbied against the bill. The company is currently facing a lawsuit related to the suicide of a 16-year-old user, and another case alleges a chatbot on Character.AI engaged in abusive behavior with a 14-year-old. OpenAI plans to implement the changes in December, and officials stated they will continue to monitor and address potential risks associated with the new policy, as detailed in their safety and alignment blog.
