OpenAI plans to launch a new “adult mode” for ChatGPT in the first quarter of 2026 (between January and March). This feature is intended to provide verified adult users with access to more expressive and less restricted AI interactions.
Key Details Availability: The adult mode is scheduled for a Q1 2026 release. Purpose: The goal is to allow adult users greater conversational freedom, following the principle to “treat adult users like adults”.
This includes allowing content that might currently be restricted by safety filters, such as erotica.
Age Verification: A crucial part of the rollout is a robust age verification system. OpenAI is currently testing age-prediction models in select countries to accurately identify users’ ages and prevent minors (under 18) from accessing mature content.
Context: This announcement coincides with the launch of OpenAI’s GPT-5.2 model and is part of the company’s broader effort to enhance personalization features and capabilities amidst competition. Once launched, users can likely access this feature by following age verification steps within their OpenAI account settings or the ChatGPT interface.
