OpenAI Pushes Ahead With ChatGPT Erotica Mode Despite 'Sexy Suicide Coach' Warning: WSJ
OpenAI has considered allowing text-based erotic conversations in ChatGPT for verified adults, with no erotic images, voice, or video. The company’s own Expert Council on Well-Being and AI advised against the feature, warning it could encourage unhealthy emotional attachments and even suicides among vulnerable users. Despite these concerns, OpenAI did not halt development, only delaying rollout due to technical issues, particularly their age-prediction system misclassifying about 12% of teens as adults. This error prevented planned launches in December 2023 and Q1 2026. Internally and externally, critics, including former employees, have accused OpenAI of prioritizing user engagement over safety. The council’s influence appears minimal, and its role was undercut by CEO Sam Altman publicly promoting the feature shortly after the council’s formation. Competitive pressure is mounting, as rivals like xAI’s Grok and Character.AI already offer similar AI companions but have faced legal and ethical challenges. Altman counters that OpenAI shouldn’t act as “moral police,” but his team has yet to resolve key safety and ethical concerns, leaving the launch uncertain.
