Altman added that future versions of the chatbot will adopt a more human-like interaction style but only at users’ request. This move, similar to recent actions by Elon Musk’s xAI, may help OpenAI attract more paying subscribers while raising concerns about the need for stricter regulations on chatbot content.
The announcement follows a lawsuit from the parents of a teenager who died by suicide after interacting with ChatGPT, which criticized the company’s parental controls as insufficient.
Altman acknowledged that previous restrictions, aimed at addressing mental health issues, made the chatbot less enjoyable for many users without such problems. He believes that new tools now allow for a safer relaxation of these restrictions, including the upcoming allowance of erotica for verified adult users in December.
Critics have expressed concerns about how OpenAI will prevent children from accessing adult content, emphasizing the need for regulation. Recent reports indicated that minors could previously generate graphic content, prompting OpenAI to implement fixes.
A recent survey revealed that one in five students has had a romantic relationship with AI, highlighting the growing interaction between youth and AI technologies.
Meanwhile, California Governor Gavin Newsom vetoed a bill that would have restricted AI chatbot access for children unless developers could ensure safety, emphasizing the importance of teaching adolescents to interact safely with AI.
At the federal level, the FTC is investigating how AI chatbots engage with children, and bipartisan legislation has been proposed to classify chatbots as products, allowing for liability claims against developers.
As OpenAI seeks to maintain its rapid growth and market share, skepticism remains regarding the sustainability of the AI tech industry’s value surge, despite OpenAI’s increasing revenue.
