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ChatGPT's Adult Mode Has Been Delayed for the Second Time

OpenAI is pushing back the launch of its adult mode for ChatGPT for the second time. The feature, which would give verified adult users access to explicit content including erotica, was first announced by CEO Sam Altman back in October last year. It was originally supposed to go live in December, then got pushed to the first quarter of 2026, and now it has been delayed again with no clear timeline for when it will actually arrive.

The reason given this time is that the company wants to focus on things that matter to more users right now, things like making ChatGPT smarter, refining its personality, and making it more proactive in how it responds. The first delay back in December was reportedly triggered by an internal memo from Altman himself, declaring a code red and asking teams to get the core ChatGPT experience back on track after pressure from Google Gemini.

OpenAI has not walked back the idea entirely. A company spokesperson confirmed they still believe in the principle of treating adult users like adults, but said getting the feature right will take more time.

For now, adult mode remains on the shelf while OpenAI focuses on the basics. Whether it ever makes it out is still an open question.