• OpenAI will allow verified adult users to generate erotic content on ChatGPT starting December 2025.
• The change is part of a new "treat adults like adults" policy aimed at enhancing user experience.
• Robust age verification methods will be implemented to ensure only users over 18 can access mature content.
• OpenAI emphasizes safety tools and user protections while allowing creative freedom.
• There are mixed reactions from the public regarding the implications of this policy change.

OpenAI announced plans to allow erotic content for verified adult users on ChatGPT starting in December 2025, marking a significant change under the new “treat adults like adults” policy. This decision follows feedback that prior restrictions had limited usability for many users while still aiming to maintain mental health safeguards. CEO Sam Altman acknowledged that stricter safety measures had made the chatbot less enjoyable for some, stating, “Given the seriousness of the issue we wanted to get this right," referencing the ongoing need to balance user experience with safety concerns, especially after a tragic incident involving a teenager in California, which prompted a lawsuit against the company. OpenAI is now preparing to roll out a more comprehensive age verification system to ensure users are over 18 before accessing adult materials, according to South China Morning Post, India Times, and Africa News.

The updated ChatGPT will enable verified adult users to generate not only erotic content but also to customize the chatbot's tone and personality. Options will include more human-like interactions, rich emoji usage, and casual conversation styles. According to OpenAI, these features aim to provide a more engaging experience while assuring safety by requiring explicit requests for adult modes, thereby giving users control over their content. This implementation has resulted in divided public reactions, with some users expressing enthusiasm over the new features, while others raised concerns about potential misuse and the effectiveness of age verification methods, highlighting the moral and ethical implications of AI-generated erotic content, as noted by India Times and Africa News.

OpenAI's commitment to improving its safety measures includes testing behavior-based age prediction technologies that assess user interactions to further confirm adult status. This initiative aligns with the company's response to regulatory scrutiny, particularly from the US Federal Trade Commission, which has raised concerns about the impact of AI on children and teenagers. The new policy seems designed to balance creative exploration with protective measures against harmful content, according to South China Morning Post, India Times, and Africa News.