OpenAI has announced upcoming changes to ChatGPT that will take effect in December. CEO Sam Altman noted that adult users will be able to use the chatbot for erotic scenarios.
"In December, once we fully implement age restrictions, we will treat adult users as adults, allowing for more, including erotic content for verified adult users," he stated.
In September, the company introduced parental controls and age verification, effectively separating minors from adults.
Engadget reports that some users have already attempted to bypass restrictions by using ChatGPT for private (NSFW) conversations. Now, the company acknowledges these scenarios as acceptable, but only for verified adults.
This approach was also discussed during the DevDay 2025 event, where OpenAI announced the integration of third-party applications into ChatGPT. Developers were informed that support for adult applications (18+) would be available after age verification and control were implemented.
These changes come amid criticism of OpenAI regarding ChatGPT's impact on mental health. For instance, there was a case where an American teenager engaged in conversations with ChatGPT about suicide, resulting in the family filing a lawsuit against OpenAI.
Another incident involved a man with mental health issues using ChatGPT, which led to a tragic outcome. Altman stated that the company intentionally made ChatGPT more restrictive to responsibly address mental health concerns, and now, with improved safety tools, OpenAI aims to safely relax restrictions in most cases.
It is expected that the company will successfully combine age restrictions with new capabilities, allowing adult users broader access to the service while still protecting minors.