OpenAI abandons yet another side quest: ChatGPT’s erotic mode
The AI giant kills three side projects, including a controversial 'adult mode,' to focus on business and coding.
OpenAI has officially shelved plans for a controversial 'erotic' or 'adult' mode for ChatGPT, a feature first proposed by CEO Sam Altman last October. According to the Financial Times, the project is now on indefinite hold with no timeline for release. The feature faced significant internal and external criticism, including from tech watchdog groups and OpenAI's own staff, with one adviser reportedly warning it could create a 'sexy suicide coach.'
This cancellation is part of a broader strategic consolidation. In the same week, OpenAI also shut down its Sora AI video generator, criticized for flooding the internet with low-quality 'slop,' and deprioritized its Instant Checkout feature for e-commerce within ChatGPT. The Wall Street Journal reports this is a 'major strategy shift' to eliminate distractions and zero in on the company's primary targets: business users and software developers.
The pivot comes as OpenAI feels competitive pressure, particularly from Anthropic, which has been aggressively releasing coding and business tools. The refocus also aligns with OpenAI's pursuit of lucrative government contracts, having recently secured a $200 million agreement with the Department of Defense—a sector where it is now directly competing with Anthropic. The message is clear: OpenAI is trading experimental, consumer-facing features for a hardened focus on enterprise and strategic government work.
- OpenAI indefinitely pauses 'ChatGPT erotic mode' after internal controversy and external criticism.
- Company also shuts down Sora video generator and deprioritizes Instant Checkout in a strategic consolidation.
- Shift aims to focus resources on core business users and coders, driven by competition from Anthropic.
Why It Matters
Signals a major industry pivot from consumer AI novelty to hardened enterprise and government solutions.