The company still promises strict boundaries for minors, who will only see the current filtered version.
OpenAI is preparing a major shift in how adults interact with ChatGPT. The company will soon allow verified adult users to access a less-restricted version of the chatbot, including erotic content, starting this December. CEO Sam Altman announced the move, saying the platform will now “treat adult users like adults.”
This marks a clear change from past restrictions, where the company blocked nearly all adult-themed conversations to reduce mental-health risks and prevent misuse among teenagers. Altman said earlier versions became “pretty restrictive,” which often limited how helpful or enjoyable ChatGPT could be for many adults.
He added that new safety systems and parental tools give OpenAI enough confidence to relax limits for adults while keeping minors protected.
OpenAI will introduce age verification inside ChatGPT settings as part of the new update. Adults who want access to mature content will need to verify their age first. Once verified, users will be able to enable adult-content permissions through a new toggle.
OpenAI stressed that erotic content will not appear automatically. Users must request it, and they must keep the setting turned on. The update will arrive with a refreshed ChatGPT experience that also lets users pick more expressive personalities for the chatbot — including conversational styles that feel more human, friendly, or emoji-heavy.
The company still promises strict boundaries for minors, who will only see the current filtered version.
OpenAI introduced strict safety filters earlier this year after concerns that younger users were forming emotional dependencies or facing mental-health challenges. The company responded by adding stronger parental controls and more protective behaviour rules.
Now, after building better detection tools and monitoring systems, OpenAI says it can safely separate adult and minor experiences. Adults will get more freedom, while teens and children will face even tighter restrictions.
The company believes the change will help users who felt the chatbot had become overly limited in recent months.
The decision has sparked debate. Many adult users welcome the rollout, arguing that censorship reduced the chatbot’s usefulness. Others worry that allowing erotica could lead to emotional dependence or inappropriate parasocial relationships.
Some users also raised questions about how strong the age-verification system will be, and whether minors could still find ways around it.
OpenAI will announce more details about the age-verification process ahead of the December release. Users can expect new settings, new personality options, and a clear switch that controls whether adult-content permissions remain active.
For minors, nothing will change — restrictions will stay strict, and ChatGPT will continue blocking all sexual or sensitive content.
