OpenAI to launch an adult mode for ChatGPT: text only, no porn

OpenAI is preparing to launch an "adult mode" for ChatGPT, and the first version of the feature will be significantly more limited than users might have assumed — only text conversations on adult topics, without any visual or voice content. According to The Wall Street Journal, an anonymous OpenAI representative characterized the future content as "smut" — that is, frivolous, titillating literature — and clearly distinguished this concept from pornography. In practice, this means that verified adult users will be able to generate erotic texts and conduct corresponding dialogues with the chatbot, but the creation of images, voice messages, and videos in this mode is not yet planned.

The feature was announced back in October 2024. At that time, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman stated that the company had sufficiently reduced the risks associated with "serious mental health problems" when the model interacts with users, and now the company can relax some of the safety restrictions. Among the planned relaxations, he mentioned erotica for verified adults.

The restriction on images and multimodal content appears to be deliberate: it is precisely the generation of realistic images that poses the greatest regulatory and reputational risks. Text is legally and ethically easier to control — and harder to use for the production of illegal material. The question of where the line is drawn between "suggestive content" and pornography remains open and largely depends on jurisdiction, cultural context, and specific content.

OpenAI will have to develop clear moderation criteria, otherwise the company will inevitably face public disputes about what exactly should be considered acceptable. The launch of adult mode is part of OpenAI's broader strategy for monetizing and expanding ChatGPT's audience. The market for adult content on the Internet has historically been one of the most profitable, and technology companies are increasingly looking for ways to enter it while not violating regulatory requirements and not losing corporate clients.