In brief
In a surprising update, OpenAI's CEO Sam Altman revealed that user guidelines for ChatGPT will evolve to permit erotica access for verified adult users. This shift comes amidst ongoing conversations about mental health implications and user safety standards for AI interactions. Critics express concerns about underage access to adult content, emphasizing the importance of robust regulatory frameworks to protect minors.
OpenAI plans to allow a wider range of content, including erotica, on its popular chatbot ChatGPT as part of its push to treat adult users like adults, says its boss Sam Altman.
In a post on X on Tuesday, Mr. Altman stated that upcoming versions of the popular chatbot would enable it to behave in a more human-like way - but only if you want it, not because we are usage maxxing.
The move, reminiscent of Elon Musk's xAI recent introduction of two sexually explicit chatbots to Grok, could help OpenAI attract more paying subscribers.
It is also likely to intensify pressure on lawmakers to introduce tighter restrictions on chatbot companions.
OpenAI did not respond to the BBC's requests for comment following Mr. Altman's post.
Changes announced by the company come after it was sued earlier this year by parents of a US teen who took his own life.
The lawsuit filed by Matt and Maria Raine, the parents of 16-year-old Adam Raine, was the first legal action accusing OpenAI of wrongful death.
The Californian couple criticized the company's parental controls - which were aimed at promoting healthier use of its chatbot - stating they did not go far enough.
Altman mentioned that OpenAI had made ChatGPT pretty restrictive to make sure we were being careful with mental health issues.
He stated that in December, as the company rolls out age-gating more fully and as part of its 'treat adult users like adults' principle, it will allow even more, like erotica for verified adults.
Critics argue that OpenAI's decision to allow erotica on the platform raises issues for regulation at federal and state levels, emphasizing concerns regarding minors accessing inappropriate content.
Moreover, California Governor Gavin Newsom recently vetoed a bill aimed at blocking AI chatbot developers from providing services to children without guarantees of safety.
With OpenAI's revenue on the rise but still not profitable, analysts suggest that the company is in a tight race for market share within the rapidly growing AI sector.
