OpenAI pauses ChatGPT ‘Adult Mode’ amid ethical concerns

OpenAI has indefinitely paused plans to introduce an ‘adult mode’ for ChatGPT, following internal concerns about safety and the ethical implications of sexualised AI. The move comes shortly after the company also shut down its Sora video platform. Reported by  Abhinav Singh NDTV. 

The idea for an erotic ChatGPT mode was first floated by CEO Sam Altman in October 2025 as a way to expand user engagement. However, the initiative failed to gain traction due to pushback from both staff and investors.

According to a report by the Financial Times, the company is now prioritising improvements to its core products. OpenAI plans to conduct long-term research into the psychological and societal effects of explicit content and emotional dependency before reconsidering such features.

Previously, the company had largely restricted mature content. But last year, Altman suggested a more flexible approach, stating that OpenAI was "not the elected moral police of the world" and was open to offering "more user freedom for adults".

"In the same way that society differentiates other appropriate boundaries (R-rated movies, for example) we want to do a similar thing here," Altman stated at the time.

Since the rise of generative AI in 2022, sexual content has been a significant driver of engagement across platforms. Elon Musk’s Grok chatbot gained attention in this space with animated AI characters and adult-oriented interactions. However, it also faced criticism after users misused the tool to create non-consensual and explicit content targeting women.

OpenAI Shuts Down Sora

The decision to drop the adult mode comes alongside OpenAI’s recent shutdown of its Sora video platform, including both its consumer-facing app and professional tools.

The company said the move is part of a broader shift in focus toward areas like robotics, aiming to develop technologies that help solve real-world, physical tasks.

Launched in 2024, Sora had drawn criticism for a surge of low-quality AI-generated videos across social media. In December 2025, The Walt Disney Company had entered into a three-year deal with OpenAI, allowing users to create AI videos featuring characters like Mickey Mouse and Yoda from Star Wars. Following the shutdown, Disney has indicated it will explore partnerships with other AI platforms.