HomeOpenAI abandons ChatGPT's erotic mode, another side quest dropped
OpenAI has shelved yet another initiative — at least for now. The Financial Times reported on Thursday that the AI company plans to "indefinitely" pause development of an "erotic" mode for ChatGPT.
The proposed "adult mode," first mentioned by CEO Sam Altman in October, sparked significant backlash from tech watchdog groups and OpenAI's own employees. In January, a meeting between company executives and its advisory council became tense, with one advisor warning that OpenAI might be building a "sexy suicide coach," according to a previous Wall Street Journal report.
Amid the criticism, the feature's release was postponed multiple times.
FT notes that no timeline now exists for the erotic feature's release. When contacted by TechCrunch for comment, an OpenAI spokesperson said the company had "nothing further to add."
Adult mode is just the latest side project OpenAI has dropped over the past week as the AI giant sharpens its focus. On Tuesday, the company quietly announced it would deprioritize Instant Checkout, a ChatGPT feature aimed at turning the chatbot into a purchase portal where users could buy items from e-commerce sites. Then, on Wednesday, the company unexpectedly announced it would shut down Sora, its AI video generator. Sora had faced criticism for fueling the flood of AI-generated "slop" that has inundated the internet since its 2024 launch.
All these changes come about a week after the Wall Street Journal reported that OpenAI was undertaking a "major strategy shift" to steer the company away from distractions and focus on its core priorities: business users and coders.
Why has OpenAI chosen this moment to eliminate distractions and lock in? Perhaps because it's feeling pressure from Anthropic, which has aggressively released a series of coding and business tools over the past few months — and has seen substantial success in attracting customers as a result.
The two companies have also been openly competing over Pentagon contracts — a battle OpenAI appears to have won. Three weeks ago, it announced a $200 million agreement with the Department of Defense, while Anthropic is now locked in a legal dispute with the agency.
In short, if recent developments are any indication, the future of AI seems less about pornography and memes and more about business and warfare.
Related article
Sam Altman Sparks Debate Over AI's Deceleration
Listen onApple PodcastsListen onSpotifyOpenAI CEO Sam Altman recently suggested that it may be time to “pace the rate of AI development” to allow society to “harden around some of these new capability levels.”On the latest episode of TechCrunch’s Equ
OpenAI fights Apple trade secret lawsuit
OpenAI rebutted Apple’s trade secret allegations on Tuesday, arguing the lawsuit is unfounded.“We take these claims seriously but see no evidence supporting them,” OpenAI stated, as reported by Bloomberg’s Ed Ludlow on X. “We support fair competition
OpenAI robotics head Caitlin Kalinowski resigns over Pentagon partnership
OpenAI robotics leader Caitlin Kalinowski has stepped down following the company’s controversial partnership with the Department of Defense.“This wasn’t an easy call,” Kalinowski explained in a social media statement. “While AI plays a vital role in
Related Special Topic Recommendations
Design & Art
AI Visual Style Reference Tools for Character Sheets, Moodboards, and Pitch Decks
2026 Latest Best AI Visual Style Reference Tools for Character Sheets, Moodboards, and Pitch Decks are here on XIX.AI! This curated top-rated list features powerful game-changing tools that go through rigorous real-world tests. You’ll find a free vs paid comparison, detailed rankings, and must-try options to help you boost creativity and streamline your workflow. Explore now to discover your perfect tool for boosting productivity!
11 tools
xix.ai
SEO
Best AI SERP Analysis Tools for Search Strategy
2026 Latest Best Top-rated AI SERP Analysis Tools for Search Strategy are curated by XIX.AI through rigorous real-world tests and weekly updated rankings. These powerful tools help you unlock hidden optimization opportunities, boost content performance, and gain a competitive edge in search. Discover your perfect tool to elevate your search strategy today. Explore now!
13 tools
xix.ai
Data Analysis
Best AI Anomaly Detection Tools for KPI Monitoring across SaaS and Ecommerce Teams
2026 Latest Best Top-rated AI Anomaly Detection Tools for KPI Monitoring in SaaS and Ecommerce teams! XIX.AI has curated a powerful, game-changing collection based on rigorous real-world tests and weekly updated rankings. You’ll find detailed free vs paid comparison insights to help you identify the must-try solution that boosts productivity and unlocks your AI edge. Explore now!
10 tools
xix.ai
writing
Best AI Outline Generators for Long-Form SEO Articles
2026 Latest Best Top-Rated AI Outline Generators for Long-Form SEO Articles, meticulously curated by XIX.AI. These powerful tools offer game-changing assistance in creating high-quality content quickly, boosting writing efficiency significantly. Get a free vs paid comparison along with real-world tests and detailed rankings to help you find the must-try option that suits your needs. Explore now to unlock your AI edge.
8 tools
xix.ai
Education and Learning
AI Study Tools for Homework and Exam Prep
2026 Latest Best AI Study Tools for Homework and Exam Prep! XIX.AI curates a top-rated list of powerful, game-changing tools that help students boost productivity, streamline homework completion, and ace exams through real-world tests. Get a free vs paid comparison, detailed rankings, and must-try options to unlock your AI edge. Explore now!
10 tools
xix.ai
Music composition
AI Vocal Demo Tools for Songwriters, Hooks, Toplines, and Multilingual Draft Sessions
2026 Latest Best AI Vocal Demo Tools for Songwriters, Hook Creators, and Multi-Language Content Teams! XIX.AI has curated a top-rated list of powerful game-changing tools that go through rigorous real-world tests. You’ll find detailed free vs paid comparison data, comprehensive rankings, and must-try options to help you boost writing efficiency and unlock your creative potential. Explore now to discover your perfect tool for all your content needs!
9 tools
xix.ai
Comments (0)
0/500
OpenAI has shelved yet another initiative — at least for now. The Financial Times reported on Thursday that the AI company plans to "indefinitely" pause development of an "erotic" mode for ChatGPT.
The proposed "adult mode," first mentioned by CEO Sam Altman in October, sparked significant backlash from tech watchdog groups and OpenAI's own employees. In January, a meeting between company executives and its advisory council became tense, with one advisor warning that OpenAI might be building a "sexy suicide coach," according to a previous Wall Street Journal report.
Amid the criticism, the feature's release was postponed multiple times.
FT notes that no timeline now exists for the erotic feature's release. When contacted by TechCrunch for comment, an OpenAI spokesperson said the company had "nothing further to add."
Adult mode is just the latest side project OpenAI has dropped over the past week as the AI giant sharpens its focus. On Tuesday, the company quietly announced it would deprioritize Instant Checkout, a ChatGPT feature aimed at turning the chatbot into a purchase portal where users could buy items from e-commerce sites. Then, on Wednesday, the company unexpectedly announced it would shut down Sora, its AI video generator. Sora had faced criticism for fueling the flood of AI-generated "slop" that has inundated the internet since its 2024 launch.
All these changes come about a week after the Wall Street Journal reported that OpenAI was undertaking a "major strategy shift" to steer the company away from distractions and focus on its core priorities: business users and coders.
Why has OpenAI chosen this moment to eliminate distractions and lock in? Perhaps because it's feeling pressure from Anthropic, which has aggressively released a series of coding and business tools over the past few months — and has seen substantial success in attracting customers as a result.
The two companies have also been openly competing over Pentagon contracts — a battle OpenAI appears to have won. Three weeks ago, it announced a $200 million agreement with the Department of Defense, while Anthropic is now locked in a legal dispute with the agency.
In short, if recent developments are any indication, the future of AI seems less about pornography and memes and more about business and warfare.
Sam Altman Sparks Debate Over AI's Deceleration
Listen onApple PodcastsListen onSpotifyOpenAI CEO Sam Altman recently suggested that it may be time to “pace the rate of AI development” to allow society to “harden around some of these new capability levels.”On the latest episode of TechCrunch’s Equ
OpenAI fights Apple trade secret lawsuit
OpenAI rebutted Apple’s trade secret allegations on Tuesday, arguing the lawsuit is unfounded.“We take these claims seriously but see no evidence supporting them,” OpenAI stated, as reported by Bloomberg’s Ed Ludlow on X. “We support fair competition
OpenAI robotics head Caitlin Kalinowski resigns over Pentagon partnership
OpenAI robotics leader Caitlin Kalinowski has stepped down following the company’s controversial partnership with the Department of Defense.“This wasn’t an easy call,” Kalinowski explained in a social media statement. “While AI plays a vital role in
2026 Latest Best AI Visual Style Reference Tools for Character Sheets, Moodboards, and Pitch Decks are here on XIX.AI! This curated top-rated list features powerful game-changing tools that go through rigorous real-world tests. You’ll find a free vs paid comparison, detailed rankings, and must-try options to help you boost creativity and streamline your workflow. Explore now to discover your perfect tool for boosting productivity!
11 tools
xix.ai
2026 Latest Best Top-rated AI SERP Analysis Tools for Search Strategy are curated by XIX.AI through rigorous real-world tests and weekly updated rankings. These powerful tools help you unlock hidden optimization opportunities, boost content performance, and gain a competitive edge in search. Discover your perfect tool to elevate your search strategy today. Explore now!
13 tools
xix.ai
2026 Latest Best Top-rated AI Anomaly Detection Tools for KPI Monitoring in SaaS and Ecommerce teams! XIX.AI has curated a powerful, game-changing collection based on rigorous real-world tests and weekly updated rankings. You’ll find detailed free vs paid comparison insights to help you identify the must-try solution that boosts productivity and unlocks your AI edge. Explore now!
10 tools
xix.ai
2026 Latest Best Top-Rated AI Outline Generators for Long-Form SEO Articles, meticulously curated by XIX.AI. These powerful tools offer game-changing assistance in creating high-quality content quickly, boosting writing efficiency significantly. Get a free vs paid comparison along with real-world tests and detailed rankings to help you find the must-try option that suits your needs. Explore now to unlock your AI edge.
8 tools
xix.ai
2026 Latest Best AI Study Tools for Homework and Exam Prep! XIX.AI curates a top-rated list of powerful, game-changing tools that help students boost productivity, streamline homework completion, and ace exams through real-world tests. Get a free vs paid comparison, detailed rankings, and must-try options to unlock your AI edge. Explore now!
10 tools
xix.ai
2026 Latest Best AI Vocal Demo Tools for Songwriters, Hook Creators, and Multi-Language Content Teams! XIX.AI has curated a top-rated list of powerful game-changing tools that go through rigorous real-world tests. You’ll find detailed free vs paid comparison data, comprehensive rankings, and must-try options to help you boost writing efficiency and unlock your creative potential. Explore now to discover your perfect tool for all your content needs!
9 tools
xix.ai
