Is ChatGPT Ready for Sex?

This episode of The Journal explores OpenAI's controversial journey toward introducing 'adult mode' in ChatGPT—a feature designed to allow more explicit, erotic conversations. The podcast traces the company's long-standing tension with sexual content, from early AI Dungeon incidents in 2021 to ChatGPT's initial ban on erotica due to concerns over harmful content and emotional dependency. Despite CEO Sam Altman's public hint that a sexbot feature could boost growth, internal resistance grew after he announced the plan without consulting all teams. The Expert Council on Wellbeing in AI unanimously opposed the move, citing risks of emotional attachment, especially among minors, and referencing tragic cases like a Florida teen’s suicide linked to a chatbot. Age verification systems, while industry-standard, misclassify 12% of minors as adults—potentially exposing 12 million children to adult content. Public backlash, including criticism from figures like Whoopi Goldberg, and internal caution have delayed the rollout indefinitely. The episode frames this debate not just as a business decision, but as a pivotal moment in how AI will shape human relationships, intimacy, and emotional health in the future.