OpenAI CEO Sam Altman has announced that ChatGPT will soon support erotic content—but only for users who verify their age. This change is part of a broader plan to loosen content restrictions and let adult users have more control over how the chatbot behaves.

What’s Changing

Altman revealed on X (formerly Twitter) that upcoming versions of ChatGPT will respond in a more humanlike, expressive way—complete with optional personality traits, emojis, and tone adjustments—if users choose it. This is not about maximizing usage, but giving more flexibility.

More significantly, in December 2025, OpenAI plans to fully roll out age verification. Verified adults will gain access to erotic content, under the principle of “treat adult users like adults.”

Altman said that earlier this year, ChatGPT had been intentionally made quite restrictive to guard against mental health risks. But now that new safety systems are in place, many of those constraints can be relaxed.

Safety, Mental Health, and Past Controversy

OpenAI’s cautious stance came after troubling incidents involving vulnerable users. A notable case involved the parents of a U.S. teenager who sued OpenAI, alleging that ChatGPT had contributed to their son’s decision to take his life. The lawsuit included chat logs in which the teen expressed suicidal thoughts.

This scandal prompted OpenAI to focus on stricter safeguards, especially around mental health. Altman says that because of new detection tools and internal mechanisms, the company now feels ready to loosen some restrictions without compromising user safety.

Age Verification & Child Safety Concerns

Under OpenAI’s new framework, under-18 users will continue to be routed into a restricted experience that blocks explicit and sexual content.

However, many critics question how effectively the system can prevent minors from accessing adult material. Jenny Kim, a legal expert, asked: “How are they going to make sure children can’t get in?”

In the UK, for example, textual erotica doesn’t require age verification under the Online Safety Act, though pornographic images do. In the U.S., calls are intensifying for new regulation to govern how chatbots handle explicit or romantic interactions.

Why This Shift?

OpenAI aims to balance safety with user experience. Altman admitted that previous restrictions had made ChatGPT less enjoyable for users without mental health vulnerabilities. The company sees this move as both restoring flexibility and remaining competitive in a market where chatbots offering romantic or flirtatious modes are gaining popularity.

As Altman put it:

> “In December … we will allow even more, like erotica for verified adults.”

Unlike forcing usage patterns, these features are opt-in: users must actively request the more expressive responses and mature content.

Risks, Reactions & Next Steps

The announcement has drawn both praise and criticism. Some believe it’s a step toward more mature, honest AI interaction. Others warn that age gates may be circumvented, exposing minors to inappropriate content. Notably, tech entrepreneur Mark Cuban has voiced concern over the difficulty of protecting children.

Regulators are already watching. The U.S. Federal Trade Commission has launched an inquiry into how AI systems engage with minors. Meanwhile, legislators are proposing laws that would allow users to bring lawsuits against developers for harm caused by chatbots.

Going forward, OpenAI will need to disclose how its age verification, moderation tools, and mental health interventions will work in practice. The company says it’s also building internal advisory bodies to help oversee safe interactions across age groups.