Earlier this month, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman announced that the company would expand the range of content allowed in ChatGPT, including “erotica for verified adults.” The statement sparked widespread debate across the tech community and caused shockwaves within the adult entertainment industry, reports Baltimore Chronicle with reference to Quartz.
OpenAI explained that the policy update reflects a desire to “treat adult users like adults.” The decision follows the introduction of Grok, Elon Musk’s chatbot from xAI, which already permits explicit conversations. Although OpenAI has not yet clarified the scope of its plans for erotic content, experts suggest that the move could significantly disrupt the multi-billion-dollar adult industry, which has repeatedly faced major transformations driven by technology.
Adult performer Victoria Peaks remarked, “I cannot be flawless and perfect like an AI model designed to be that way,” reflecting the growing concern among artists that artificial intelligence may threaten the human element of adult entertainment.
AI’s presence in the adult world is not new. Two years ago, performer Mia Malkova collaborated with Los Angeles–based startup Synthetic Turing Experience Technologies (STXT) to launch a chatbot marketed as an “AI girlfriend.” Meanwhile, the Internet remains filled with “AI companion” sites, allowing users to interact with digital replicas of adult models. Additionally, the widespread availability of AI-powered image and video generation tools has enabled users to create and share AI-generated erotic visuals across platforms like Reddit and Pornhub.
A Pornhub spokesperson told Quartz that the platform maintains “very strict AI policies.” Any attempt to upload content featuring realistic human depictions requires the submission of government-issued ID, consent forms, and third-party verification to confirm authenticity. “An AI-generated person would not be able to pass this process,” the spokesperson stated, emphasizing that such imagery is not permitted on the platform.
OnlyFans, on the other hand, allows AI-generated content as long as it is properly labeled. Yet, many creators bypass this rule, using manipulated or fake images to attract more subscribers. A 404 Media investigation revealed widespread use of deepfakes and face swaps on the site. Even when OnlyFans removes such accounts, cloned versions frequently appear on imitation sites, keeping the AI-generated content ecosystem alive.
Financially, the adult entertainment industry remains vast. According to The Business Research Co., adult entertainment companies collectively earned $65.95 billion globally in 2023, with projections reaching $100.97 billion by 2029. OnlyFans CEO Kelly Blair stated during a Bloomberg Tech conference on October 20 that the company has paid out $25 billion to creators since 2016. The platform, which takes a 20% commission on earnings, is currently valued at $8 billion.
With OpenAI’s market valuation hovering around $500 billion, its entry into adult content could carry far-reaching financial implications. When OpenAI announced its new web browser on October 21, Google’s market capitalization dropped by roughly $100 billion — a sign of how significantly OpenAI’s decisions can ripple through global markets.
The biggest question now is how far OpenAI plans to go in developing adult-oriented tools. Altman’s announcement did not specify whether the new functionality would be limited to text-based erotica or expand to include hyper-realistic visuals made possible by tools like Sora 2. If the feature remains text-only, the change may not trigger major controversy. However, if OpenAI ventures into realistic visual or video content, it could unleash a Pandora’s box of legal and ethical issues — from copyright disputes to age-verification laws.
Several U.S. states already mandate age verification for accessing adult websites, while the U.K.’s Online Safety Act requires users to prove they are over 18 before viewing pornographic material. Yet, most existing regulations do not address AI-generated imagery where the “participants” are not real people, leaving legal and ethical gray zones that regulators have yet to confront.
Earlier we wrote that ChatGPT Creator Backs Startup Developing Non-Invasive AI Technology to Read Human Thoughts.
