OpenAI is set to introduce mature content access for adult users of ChatGPT who verify their age on the platform, starting in December, according to CEO Sam Altman’s announcement on Tuesday. Altman noted that as OpenAI expands age verification measures in line with the ethos of treating adult users with respect, verified adults will have access to content like erotica.
Altman acknowledged that OpenAI had initially implemented strict restrictions on ChatGPT to address mental health concerns, which inadvertently limited the chatbot’s utility and appeal to users without mental health issues. However, he emphasized that the organization has developed new tools to address mental health issues effectively, enabling a gradual relaxation of restrictions in most scenarios.
In the upcoming weeks, OpenAI plans to release an updated version of ChatGPT that will empower users to customize the tone and personality of the chatbot to a greater extent. Altman highlighted that users will have the flexibility to make ChatGPT respond in a more human-like manner, incorporate emojis liberally, or simulate a friendly conversational style, all based on individual preferences rather than maximizing usage metrics.
These developments in OpenAI’s approach follow Meta’s recent announcement of enhanced restrictions on Instagram for users under 18, aligning content filters to levels akin to a PG-13 movie. Additionally, OpenAI has introduced new parental controls to prevent ChatGPT from engaging in flirtatious, suicidal, or self-harming conversations with individuals below 18 years of age, in response to concerns surrounding the tragic suicide of a teenager who had been interacting with the chatbot.
OpenAI is also working on an age-prediction system to estimate users’ ages based on their ChatGPT interactions and apply relevant restrictions to users believed to be minors. The company’s proactive measures aim to ensure a safer and more tailored user experience on the platform.