OpenAI Halts Adult Chatbot Project Indefinitely

Just a few days after revealing the shutdown of its AI video generation platform, OpenAI has decided to pause another initiative. The details are somewhat unclear, but it seems Sam Altman’s team is reconsidering the boundaries regarding what is classified as “adult” content.

According to a report from the Financial Times, insiders have indicated that plans for an erotic chatbot have been shelved “indefinitely.” Prior to moving ahead with any such product, OpenAI expressed a desire to rely on thorough research about the impacts of AI-driven sexual chats on users and the potential emotional connections that might arise from them.

Currently, OpenAI asserts that there is a lack of “empirical evidence” in this area.

Last year, Altman stated that ChatGPT would start incorporating additional content, including erotic material, to “treat adult users like adults.” Yet, in early March, OpenAI had initially announced that an “adult mode” would soon be launched but later decided to delay it. A spokesperson mentioned that the delay was necessary to prioritize more pressing tasks. “We are currently delaying the launch of Adult Mode so that we can focus on work that is a priority for more users,” they said.

The company emphasized, “While we still believe in the principle of treating adults like adults, it will take more time to get the experience right.” It was also revealed that the decision to pivot was influenced by feedback from employees and investors who had concerns about the implications of sexualized AI content, which were deemed to offer minimal benefits in return.

This news comes on the heels of other strategic adjustments. Recently, the company has also chosen to discontinue its AI service called Sora, noting that it was an important creation and acknowledging that the news might be disappointing to many. The company promised to share more information soon, especially concerning app timelines and user data preservation.