OpenAI CEO Sam Altman announced on October 14 that ChatGPT will now allow adult users to generate explicit content, including porn and erotica. The decision aims to “treat adult users like adults,” making the AI more enjoyable and versatile for grown-ups.
We made ChatGPT pretty restrictive to make sure we were being careful with mental health issues. We realize this made it less useful/enjoyable to many users who had no mental health problems, but given the seriousness of the issue we wanted to get this right.
Now that we have…
— Sam Altman (@sama) October 14, 2025
Altman explained that the platform had been highly restrictive before. “We had made ChatGPT pretty restrictive to make sure we were being careful with mental health issues,” he said. However, this approach had made the chatbot “less useful/enjoyable to many users who had no mental health problems.”
Why ChatGPT Restrictions Were in Place?
Previously, ChatGPT was limited from generating adult content due to safety concerns. The restrictions followed tragic incidents, including a teenage user reportedly taking his own life with alleged guidance from the AI.
While writers and adult content creators argued that AI could safely assist in creating erotica, OpenAI prioritized mental health and safety, putting strict limits on content generation.
What Sam Altman Announced?
Sam Altman emphasized that new tools and safeguards now mitigate mental health risks, allowing OpenAI to relax restrictions safely. “Now that we have been able to mitigate the serious mental health issues and have new tools, we are going to be able to safely relax the restrictions in most cases,” he said.
By December 2025, ChatGPT will roll out age-gating features more fully. Verified adults will be able to generate even more risqué creations, including erotica. “In December, as we roll out age-gating more fully and as part of our ‘treat adult users like adults’ principle, we will allow even more, like erotica for verified adults,” Altman added.
User Reactions and Controversy
The announcement has sparked mixed reactions online. Critics questioned why age verification should lead to adult content access. One X user wrote, “Why do age-gates always have to lead to erotica? Like, I just want to be able to be treated like an adult and not a toddler, that doesn’t mean I want perv-mode activated.”
The decision has also drawn attention because it comes alongside Altman’s previous statement about using AI to cure cancer, highlighting the diverse and sometimes controversial priorities in AI development.
Balancing Safety and Freedom
OpenAI’s latest move reflects a broader trend in AI development: balancing user safety with creative freedom. By introducing age verification and risk mitigation, the company hopes to allow adult users to explore content without compromising safety.
This could also mark a shift in AI ethics, where responsibly managed adult content becomes a standard feature in platforms that previously limited user expression for safety reasons.
What This Means for ChatGPT Users?
As ChatGPT prepares for this update, verified adult users can expect a more flexible and engaging experience by December. OpenAI’s rollout could redefine the AI content landscape, particularly in areas like creative writing, erotica, and adult entertainment, while maintaining mental health safeguards.
