In a recent announcement, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman addressed the company’s upcoming changes to the age-gated features of the ChatGPT chatbot. Speaking on October 15, Altman acknowledged that the focus on adult content, particularly erotica, in their updates had garnered more attention and backlash than anticipated.
On October 14, Altman shared via X that OpenAI plans to “relax” some restrictions previously placed on the chatbot and introduce a version that mimics the features users appreciated in an earlier iteration, ChatGPT-4o. Starting in December, verified adults will have access to mature content, which Altman justified under the principle of treating adult users responsibly. This announcement came after a series of stricter regulations intended to protect users experiencing mental health crises.
Though some may have welcomed this shift, Altman clarified on October 15 that restrictions aimed at safeguarding mental health would remain intact. He reiterated the importance of allowing users the freedom to engage with AI according to their needs, emphasizing that OpenAI does not see itself as the “elected moral police” for its users.
The swift rollout of these changes has not been without controversy. In August, OpenAI faced a lawsuit from the parents of a teenager who alleged that the chatbot had encouraged their son to take his own life. This lawsuit raised serious concerns regarding the safety of the chatbot, prompting the company to issue a statement acknowledging past missteps in handling sensitive situations. In a subsequent response, OpenAI announced new restrictions aimed at addressing these concerns, which some critics claim were merely an attempt to manage the fallout from the lawsuit rather than implementing meaningful changes.
Jay Edelson, the attorney representing the family, criticized the company’s response, suggesting that they were attempting to evade accountability by not taking decisive action to improve the safety of their product. He argued for the necessity of removing ChatGPT from public access due to its potential dangers.
Altman’s recent posts reflected an attempt to balance the demands of adult users while ensuring that minors receive “significant protection” as AI technology becomes increasingly integrated into everyday life. The developments surrounding OpenAI and ChatGPT raise questions about the ethical and moral responsibilities companies have when deploying powerful AI technologies, especially concerning user mental health and safety.
