Age‑Gating and Parental Controls

OpenAI is preparing to roll out comprehensive age‑gating tools that will automatically detect user age and provide parental‑control options. The company first announced these features in September, emphasizing a commitment to keep younger users protected while allowing more freedom for adults. The upcoming rollout is positioned as a prerequisite for expanding the range of content available to verified adult users.

Opening Mature Content

According to CEO Sam Altman, the next phase – slated for December – will enable ChatGPT to deliver erotica and other mature content to users who have been verified as adults. Altman framed the change as part of OpenAI's "treat adult users like adults" principle, indicating that the company will no longer limit the chatbot to strictly family‑friendly interactions once appropriate safeguards are in place.

OpenAI also signaled that developers could create applications offering mature (18+) experiences, provided they implement robust age‑verification mechanisms. This guidance was shared during the company's DevDay 2025 event, where the firm outlined new developer policies for handling adult‑oriented content.

Context and Concerns

The move occurs against a backdrop of broader conversations about AI safety and mental‑health implications. The announcement references a high‑profile case involving a 16‑year‑old who allegedly used ChatGPT to plan a suicide, underscoring the seriousness with which OpenAI approaches user well‑being. The company has also introduced features such as break reminders and adjustments to reduce the model's sycophantic tendencies, particularly with the upcoming GPT‑5 release.

By coupling age‑verification with expanded content options, OpenAI aims to balance user autonomy with protective measures, signaling a nuanced approach to the evolving landscape of generative AI use.

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