Altman framed the decision as part of a move toward “more user freedom for adults” while reinforcing safeguards for teenagers. “In the same way that society differentiates other appropriate boundaries, such as R-rated movies, we want to do a similar thing here,” he wrote on X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter.
OpenAI is not the first to explore monetizing sexualized AI. Since the AI boom of 2022, mature content has been a major draw for chatbots and AI-generated imagery. However, companies attempting to integrate adult content have faced legal scrutiny, societal pushback, and reports of harmful misuse.
Experts see OpenAI’s move as both a potential profit driver and a challenge for moderation. Zilan Qian, a fellow at Oxford University’s China Policy Lab, highlighted the commercial opportunity, noting that subscriptions alone have not generated substantial revenue. “Having erotic content will bring them quick money,” Qian said. She also cautioned that mainstream chatbots offering sexualized experiences could have real-world implications for relationships, especially given AI’s tendency toward constant availability and user flattery.
The market for AI companions is already substantial. Research by Qian shows there are roughly 29 million users interacting with chatbots designed specifically for romantic or sexual engagement, not including those who repurpose conventional AI like ChatGPT for similar purposes. Meanwhile, other platforms such as Character.AI have faced legal challenges over allegations of inappropriate sexual interactions with minors. OpenAI itself is defending a lawsuit related to the death of a 16-year-old ChatGPT user in April.
Historically, attempts to monetize adult AI content have proven complex. Idaho-based Civitai, a platform for AI-generated art, initially embraced mature content to attract users. CEO Justin Maier said that allowing explicit content helped improve model performance and broaden community engagement. Yet the platform later faced abuse issues, particularly involving nonconsensual images and deepfake pornography, prompting stricter moderation measures and a decline in user engagement.
Other startups, like Baltimore-based Nomi.ai, have sought to create AI companions strictly for adults, emphasizing that users can form platonic or romantic bonds at their discretion. Founder Alex Cardinell described adult interactions as highly user-dependent, cautioning against overgeneralizing behaviors in AI-human relationships.
OpenAI’s entry into adult-oriented AI coincides with regulatory developments. The day before Altman’s announcement, California Gov. Gavin Newsom vetoed legislation that would have restricted AI chatbots from interacting with minors if sexual content was foreseeable. Tech companies including OpenAI have since implemented stricter age verification and parental control measures.
Altman acknowledged in a recent podcast that OpenAI has resisted revenue-driven products that conflict with its long-term mission of safe AI development. Yet the introduction of adult content marks a notable pivot for the company, which continues to weigh financial pressures against ethical considerations in a rapidly evolving AI landscape.