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

OpenAI is preparing to launch an "adult mode" for ChatGPT, and the first version of the feature will be noticeably more limited than users may have assumed: text conversations on adult topics only, with no visual or voice content of any kind.

According to The Wall Street Journal, an anonymous OpenAI representative described the upcoming content as "smut", meaning risqué, racy fiction, and explicitly distinguished it from pornography. In practice, this means verified adult users will be able to generate erotic text and hold corresponding conversations with the chatbot, but creating images, voice messages and video in this mode is not planned for now.

The feature was first announced in October 2024. At the time, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman said the company had managed to sufficiently mitigate the risks linked to "serious mental health issues" in how the model interacts with users, and could now relax some of its safety restrictions. Among the planned relaxations, he mentioned erotica for verified adults.

The restriction on images and multimodal content looks deliberate: realistic image generation carries the greatest regulatory and reputational risks. Text is easier to control legally and ethically, and harder to use for producing illegal material.

Where the line falls between "smut" and pornography remains an open question, and depends largely on jurisdiction, cultural context and the specific content. OpenAI will have to develop clear moderation criteria, or it will inevitably face public disputes over what counts as acceptable.

The adult mode launch is part of OpenAI's broader strategy to monetize and expand the ChatGPT audience. The online adult content market has historically been one of the most profitable, and tech companies are increasingly looking for ways to enter it without violating regulatory requirements or losing corporate clients.