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penAI, the company behind ChatGPT, plans to introduce an “adult mode” for its flagship artificial intelligence platform in the first quarter of 2026, according to company leadership.
The update was confirmed last week by Fidji Simo, OpenAI’s CEO of Applications, during a press briefing surrounding the company’s latest GPT release. Speaking with The Verge and other outlets, Simo said the adult mode feature is currently in early development and will include new safeguards such as age prediction and verification tools.
What Is ChatGPT Adult Mode?
ChatGPT’s adult mode will allow verified adult users to access mature content that has historically been restricted on the platform. This includes erotica for verified adults, a shift that reflects OpenAI’s evolving approach to content moderation and user autonomy.
The move aligns with the company’s broader principle of “treat adult users like adults,” balancing safety systems with consent-based access to adult material.
Sam Altman Confirms Policy Shift
OpenAI CEO Sam Altman first signaled the change in October via a post on X, explaining that ChatGPT’s earlier restrictions were intentionally strict due to concerns around mental health and safety.
“We made ChatGPT pretty restrictive to make sure we were being careful with mental health issues,” Altman wrote. “We realize this made it less useful or enjoyable to many users who had no mental health problems, but given the seriousness of the issue we wanted to get this right.”
Altman added that OpenAI has since developed new tools to mitigate those concerns, allowing the company to safely relax restrictions in most cases.
More Control, More Customization
Alongside adult mode, OpenAI plans to release a new version of ChatGPT that offers users greater control over the AI’s personality and tone. According to Altman, users will be able to opt into more human-like responses, conversational styles, or expressive features such as emoji—only if they choose to.
The company emphasized that these changes are designed around personalization and consent, not engagement manipulation.
Age Gating and Adult Content Timeline
As part of a broader rollout of age-gating systems expected to expand in December, OpenAI will gradually allow additional mature content. As previously reported by AVN, this includes explicit support for erotica for verified adult users.
OpenAI expects ChatGPT adult mode to launch in early 2026, pending final testing and implementation of age verification tools.
For an AI platform that has spent years playing it safe, the shift marks a clear recalibration: less censorship by default, more choice by design—and a recognition that adult users don’t need a digital chaperone.
