OpenAI's delayed 'adult mode' underscores the challenges of age-gating AI

"OpenAI referred Fast Company to a comment it gave to Alex Heath's newsletter saying it was pausing the feature to focus on improvements to ChatGPT, including "gains in intelligence, personality improvements, personalization, and making the experience more proactive." (It also told Axios it needs more time. "We still believe in the principle of treating adults like adults, but getting the experience right will take more time," the company said.)"

"Adult mode depends on OpenAI's new age-prediction and verification system, a homegrown AI model that estimates a user's age based on prompts and media generated with tools like Sora. OpenAI said in January it had begun rolling out the technology globally within ChatGPT. When the system detects a user may be underage, it restricts things like violent content and romantic role-play."

"OpenAI first hinted at the feature last October in an X post from CEO Sam Altman responding to questions about ChatGPT's safety for underage users. "As we roll out age-gating more fully and as part of our 'treat adult users like adults' principle, we will allow even more, like erotica for verified adults," Altman wrote."

OpenAI announced a second delay for its adult mode feature in ChatGPT, pushing the rollout to later in the quarter. The feature aims to age-gate users, allowing verified adults access to less-restricted content including erotica while protecting minors from inappropriate material. The delay stems from OpenAI's need to improve ChatGPT's core functionality, including intelligence, personality, and personalization features. The adult mode relies on OpenAI's proprietary AI-based age prediction system that analyzes user prompts and generated media, supplemented by third-party verification through Persona. The company acknowledges that accurate age prediction and verification technology remains challenging to implement effectively.

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