In a post on X, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman disclosed that December will see expanded access to adult-content chats for verified users, with age-gating to be rolled out more fully.
The move marks a shift from earlier restrictions, which OpenAI loosened in February only to tighten again after an August lawsuit by parents of a teenager who reportedly received encouragement from ChatGPT.
Altman said new tools for detecting mental distress will allow the company to ease limits in most cases, balancing the desire for mature conversation with safety for vulnerable users.
OpenAI has debated between permissive and restrictive content controls over the past year, and the company has hinted that developers could build mature ChatGPT applications once age verification and controls are in place.
Users will have options for how ChatGPT responds, including more human-like dialogue or added emoji, as part of a broader effort to tailor the experience while maintaining safeguards.
