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's introduction of sexually explicit chatbots to Grok, could help OpenAI attract more paying subscribers and 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 was the first legal action accusing OpenAI of wrongful death.
The Californian couple criticized the company’s parental controls, which were purportedly designed to promote healthier use of its chatbot, claiming they did not go far enough. The family included chat logs between their son and ChatGPT that illustrated suicidal thoughts.
Altman explained that OpenAI previously made ChatGPT pretty restrictive to ensure we were being careful with mental health issues but acknowledged that this made the tool less enjoyable for many users without mental health concerns.
Mr. Altman announced that new tools now allow the company to safely relax the restrictions in most cases. He indicated that with the rollout of age-gating expected in December, more adult content, including erotica, would be accessible to verified users.
Critics of this decision warn it heightens the need for more rigorous regulation. Jenny Kim, a lawyer involved in a lawsuit against Meta, emphasized concerns regarding children accessing adult content and noted that past attempts at age limitation may not have been effective.
This announcement raises questions at the federal and state levels about AI regulations, especially concerning children's interactions with AI technologies. As OpenAI’s revenue grows but profitability remains elusive, the company continues to seek market dominance amidst growing skepticism about AI's rapid rise.
