OpenAI delays ChatGPT “adult mode” again over safety concerns

OpenAI has once again delayed the launch of its planned “adult mode” for ChatGPT, which would allow erotic conversations.

According to sources cited by The Wall Street Journal, the company has officially postponed the feature by at least a month. Leadership decided to pause the rollout to review safety protocols following strong criticism from its own advisory board.

Experts have raised serious concerns about the feature, warning of the risk of creating what they describe as a “'sexy suicide coach.” If the chatbot is designed to be highly empathetic and supportive of user desires during intimate conversations, it may fail to recognize signs of depression or self-harm. In such scenarios, AI could reinforce harmful thoughts instead of challenging them.

At the same time, OpenAI has openly stated its ambition to strengthen emotional engagement between users and its models. The company sees deeper human-AI relationships as a key driver of user loyalty.

Advisors argue that simulating romantic or emotional attachment could lead to psychological dependency and social isolation, with users potentially treating the AI as a real partner, increasing the risk of emotional harm.

Despite these concerns, CEO Sam Altman has maintained his position that platforms should “treat adults like adults.”However, the repeated delay suggests that OpenAI has not yet found a technical solution that balances erotic interaction with strict safety controls. For now, the company has shifted focus toward improving ChatGPT’s overall personality and personalization features, excluding the 18+ category.