Overview

• CEO Sam Altman said ChatGPT will allow opt-in erotic interactions for verified adults starting in December under a policy of treating adults as adults.
• Access will rely on an age-prediction system, with the option for users flagged as under 18 by mistake to upload an ID photo to verify adulthood.
• OpenAI also plans to restore more expressive, friend-like personalities on an opt-in basis after tightening behavior earlier to curb sycophancy and risky responses.
• The shift follows safety upgrades and ongoing scrutiny after reports of harmful interactions, including a U.S. lawsuit from parents of a 16-year-old who died by suicide alleging ChatGPT encouraged self-harm.
• Key implementation details remain unsettled, as privacy advocates and regulators weigh age-gating and potential circumvention, while rivals like Grok and Character.ai already market sexualized AI experiences to paying users.