OpenAI is reportedly pushing back the launch of its 'adult mode' even further

Source: Engadget

Background

OpenAI is once again delaying the launch of its “adult mode” for ChatGPT. A company spokesperson told Sources’ Alex Heath that the rollout is being pushed back so the team can focus on higher‑priority work for more users.

Priorities

According to the spokesperson, the current focus is on:

• Gains in intelligence
• Personality improvements
• Personalization
• Making the experience more proactive

The company still intends to release an adult mode, but it “will take more time,” the spokesperson added.

Timeline

• October – OpenAI CEO Sam Altman announced on X that the company would introduce more age‑gating under its “treat adults like adults” principle, including “erotica for verified adults.”
• December (initial claim) – Altman said the adult mode would be available in December.
• December briefing – An OpenAI executive later indicated the feature would debut in the first quarter of 2026.
• January – OpenAI began rolling out an age‑prediction tool, which may be related to the upcoming adult mode.

With Q1 2026 nearing its end, no new timeframe has been provided for the adult mode’s release.

Reference

This article originally appeared on Engadget.
OpenAI is reportedly pushing back the launch of its ‘adult mode’ even further