
OpenAI CEO Sam Altman recently announced that the company plans to launch an age verification feature in December. Based on the principle of "treating adults as adults," this feature will allow verified adult users to access "adult topics," including sexually explicit content. This adjustment stems from OpenAI's reevaluation of existing restrictions. Previously, ChatGPT implemented strict content filters to ensure the careful handling of mental health issues, but the company found that these restrictions made the user experience "less useful or enjoyable" for those without mental health concerns.
To balance safety and practicality, OpenAI has developed a new mental health detection tool that can more accurately identify a user's mental state. Altman stated that the new tool has effectively mitigated serious risks, making it "safe to relax restrictions in most cases." He emphasized that the age verification mechanism will allow adult users to have more flexible access to content, such as sexually explicit content.
In addition, OpenAI announced that it will release a new version of ChatGPT in the coming weeks, which will perform "closer to the user-favorite 4o model." This series of updates signals the company's pursuit of a new balance between content moderation and user experience, and also sparks further discussion about the responsibilities and boundaries of AI.