Tech

OpenAI has announced changes in the use of ChatGPT that will take effect in December. CEO Sam Altman stated that the service will allow adult users to utilize the chatbot for erotic scenarios.
"In December, when we implement age restrictions fully and adhere to our principle of treating adults as adults, we will allow even more, such as erotica for verified adult users," said Sam Altman.
In September, the company introduced a parental control system and automatic age verification. According to Altman, this has enabled a clear distinction between minors and adults.
Engadget reports that some users have already attempted to bypass restrictions by using ChatGPT for private (NSFW) conversations. Now, the company effectively acknowledges such scenarios as permissible but only for verified adults.
A similar approach was discussed during the DevDay 2025 event, where OpenAI announced the integration of third-party applications into ChatGPT. At that time, developers were informed that support for adult (18+) applications in the chatbot would be available after the implementation of age verification and control.
These changes come amid criticism of OpenAI regarding the impact of ChatGPT on users' mental health. For instance, we reported on an incident where a teenager engaged in conversations with ChatGPT about suicide. Unfortunately, the situation ended tragically, leading the boy's parents to file a lawsuit against OpenAI.
Another case involved a man in the US with mental health issues who used ChatGPT to validate his paranoid thoughts. His conversations with the chatbot resulted in the murder of his mother and his own suicide.
In light of these events, Sam Altman stated that the company has consciously made ChatGPT more restrictive to responsibly address issues related to mental health. He acknowledged that this might have made the model less useful or enjoyable for users without mental health issues, but it was necessary for safety.
He added that now, having mitigated "serious mental health issues" and implemented new safety measures, OpenAI will be able to safely relax restrictions in most cases.
It is expected that the company will successfully combine age restrictions with new opportunities, allowing adult users a broader scope in using the service while still protecting minors.

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