OpenAI Puts Adult Mode on Hold After Advisers Warned It Could Become a 'Sexy Suicide Coach'

OpenAI has delayed its planned adult mode for ChatGPT after advisers raised serious concerns about mental health and child safety risks, including a warning that the feature could become a "sexy suicide coach." At a January 2026 meeting, one adviser warned that allowing users to engage in erotic text-based conversations with the chatbot could lead to emotional dependence and addiction. Psychologists and neuroscientists flagged additional concerns about compulsive use, content escalation, and teens potentially slipping through age verification. OpenAI's age-prediction system misclassified minors as adults about 12% of the time, potentially exposing millions of under-18s to adult content. The company says it still plans to launch adult mode eventually but needs more time to make the experience safer.