OpenAI to Launch ChatGPT ‘Adult Mode’ Despite Warnings From Its Own Advisers
OpenAI to Launch ChatGPT ‘Adult Mode’ Despite Warnings From Its Own Advisers
Publish Date: 2026-03-16 16:21:00
Source Domain: www.cnet.com
- Adult Mode Announcement: OpenAI announced plans to introduce a text-only adult mode for its AI-powered chatbot, ChatGPT.
- Content Restrictions: The adult mode will focus on text-based chats with adult themes only, prohibiting the generation of erotic audio, images, or videos.
- Internal Opposition: There has been strong internal opposition, with several advisers expressing serious misgivings about the feature, especially regarding child safety.
- Delay in Launch: The launch of the adult mode has been delayed to focus on higher-priority developments such as intelligence boosts and personality improvements.
- Safety Concerns and Discrimination Allegations: Critics of the adult mode feature, including a former executive, raised concerns about insufficient safeguards against child exploitation and the potential ease of minors accessing adult mode.
- Safety Measures: The company is working on improvements to its age-prediction technology, which misclassifies minors about 12% of the time.
- Launch Date Uncertainty: No specific launch date has been set for the adult mode feature.
- Safety Focus: In the wake of a lawsuit involving a teen’s suicide, the company has implemented additional parental controls to protect minors from harmful material.
