'Naughty chats' feature in ChatGPT leaked ahead of rumored 18+ launch

Large Language Models are evolving faster than we can keep track of, and while supporters continue to sing the praises of chatbots, just as many critics are pointing out potential drawbacks. As the Goliaths of Claude, ChatGPT, Gemini, and Grok continue to duke it out, OpenAI is teasing the future of its own AI creation.

Since being introduced in November 2022, ChatGPT has faced a baptism of fire. As well as a series of wrongful death suits being filed against the artificial intelligence giant, there are continued conversations about people falling in love with AI.

There's been a somewhat alarming rise in reports of people romancing various LLMs and even marrying them, with experts issuing warnings on what this could be doing to our mental health. This has unfairly become the source of ridicule for some, while others have compared it to a real-life version of Spike Jonze's Her, where Joaquin Phoenix's character becomes infatuated with an AI voiced by Scarlett Johansson.

Away from fears that women could be made 'obsolete' by AI girlfriends, there are reports that ChatGPT could soon be introducing a 'naughty chats' feature. As reported by Android Authority, ChatGPT v1.2026.055 includes a string for naughty chats, which mentions how users will be able to use "spicier, adult-themed language, when you ask."

It reiterates that this is only available for users over the age of 18, with the string concluding: "To help keep ChatGPT appropriate for everyone, some settings require age verification."

We've previously reported on various jailbroken AIs, as well as the woman who 'groomed' ChatGPT into indulging in an NSFW relationship. Still, there are supposed to be behavioral guardrails in place to stop certain kinds of interactions.

The implication is that 'naughty chats' will allow users to purposefully engage in a more adult relationship with ChatGPT.

This isn't too much of a surprise for many, as in October 2025, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman stated there were plans to "treat adult users like adults” as ChatGPT planned to allow erotica for verified adults.

Android Authority notes that naughty chats could be rolled out alongside a new age-prediction tool that will categorize users based on various factors. It's said that if it can't determine someone's age, they will automatically be placed in the under-18 category. Like with the recent clampdown on pornography, you'll then have to submit a selfie via a third-party identity verification service to move into the 18+ group.

Over on Reddit, opinions on this spicer ChatGPT were split, with one critic writing: "There’s no way I’m gonna use the same tool I do for work for porn.

“The amount of data they gather on you is already staggering, now add onto that all your kinky secrets? Lmao. Who asked for this??”

Another added: "Yuck. Gives you a sense of who is in control of these companies. People wanted a friendly bot. Best they can do is sex slave."

Others were indifferent, with someone else stating: "Ppl in these comments acting like ChatGPT Didn't write filth most of last year and the year before that.

“If you don't want it, you wont get it. If you do, you will. Come on, I know most of you are tech/code bro's, so I know you have some brains in there."

A fourth concluded: "People still believing the narrative that anything sexual is a negative. It’s how we keep our race alive but somehow religion narratives have made us ashamed? No thanks it’s part of what it means to be human, stop accepting the shame bs."

UNILADTech has reached out to OpenAI for comment.