Overview

• CEO Sam Altman said a new ChatGPT version will arrive in the coming weeks that lets users control tone and personality, including more human‑like or friend‑like responses and heavy emoji use.
• Erotic content will be available only to verified adults starting in December and will be strictly opt‑in, with Altman saying users "won’t get it unless you ask for it."
• Altman argues OpenAI can ease restrictions after mitigating serious mental‑health risks, citing updates like GPT‑5’s lower sycophancy, a behavior router for concerning use, age prediction tools, parental controls, and an expert well‑being council.
• OpenAI has not explained how age verification will work or how it will prevent access by minors and non‑consensual or otherwise harmful content, and the company remains under legal and regulatory scrutiny including an FTC inquiry and a lawsuit over a teen’s death.
• The policy marks a notable rollback of earlier bans as rivals such as Character.AI and xAI’s Grok allow more permissive NSFW interactions, intensifying the balance between engagement and safety.