OpenAI tests ChatGPT adult mode and weighs age checks and privacy

In short: OpenAI is testing an “adult mode” for ChatGPT that could allow more sexual content for adults, and it may require stronger age checks that affect privacy.

What happened

OpenAI has discussed adding an “adult mode” to ChatGPT, aimed at letting verified users who are over 18 see fewer blocks on sexual content, including erotica. The company has said this is planned for early 2026, but it has not fully rolled out yet.

Wired reports that OpenAI is testing ways to confirm a user’s age, and that this could lead to more personal data being collected or inferred. One method described in earlier OpenAI statements is “age prediction,” which means the system tries to guess age based on behavior in the app (like a bouncer making a judgment call). If the system is not confident, it is supposed to treat the user as under 18.

In some places, OpenAI may also ask for ID to prove age. OpenAI leaders have acknowledged that ID checks can be a privacy tradeoff.

It is also important to separate confirmed plans from rumors. OpenAI has talked publicly about allowing erotica for verified adults, but it has not clearly confirmed that it plans to allow explicit interactive “sexting” with ChatGPT.

Why it matters

If ChatGPT allows more adult content, OpenAI will need to keep teens out. That can push the company toward stronger age checks, and those checks can feel like giving more personal information to a service you might use for private conversations.

Source: Wired