Mark Cuban Critiques OpenAI’s Age Restrictions for Erotica on ChatGPT

OpenAI’s decision to introduce age-gated “erotica” content on its ChatGPT platform has drawn sharp criticism from entrepreneur and investor Mark Cuban. The CEO of OpenAI, Sam Altman, announced on October 31, 2023, that the new adult content feature will become available to verified users in December, accompanied by an expansion of age-gating measures.

Cuban, a father of three, expressed his concerns in a post on social media platform X, stating that “this is going to backfire. Hard.” He emphasized that parents may not trust the effectiveness of the age restrictions intended to shield children from adult material. Cuban’s skepticism stems from the belief that children could easily bypass these safeguards, rendering them ineffective.

“Why take the risk? A few seniors in high school are 18 and decide it would be fun to show the hardcore erotica they created to the 14-year-olds. What could go wrong?” Cuban wrote, highlighting the potential risks associated with this new feature.

OpenAI’s current terms of use require that users be “at least 13 years old or the minimum age required in your country to consent to use” their services. Additionally, users under 18 must obtain parental or legal guardian permission. Despite these measures, critics like Cuban argue that such restrictions are unlikely to be foolproof.

The introduction of adult content by OpenAI aligns with trends observed in the tech industry. Competitors such as Elon Musk‘s company, xAI, have also ventured into similar territory, releasing AI companions and other products with adult themes. In July 2023, xAI launched Grok Imagine, an AI image and video generator that included a “spicy” mode for generating explicit content.

Initially, Altman had reservations about including adult material on ChatGPT, stating in an August 2023 video that it did not align with the company’s values. He emphasized the importance of maintaining focus on the core mission of OpenAI, despite occasional temptations to explore adult-oriented features.

As OpenAI prepares to roll out these changes, it faces a growing debate regarding the responsibility of technology companies to protect young users from inappropriate content. Cuban’s comments underscore a broader concern among parents and guardians about the implications of adult content in platforms designed for general use.

Representatives for both OpenAI and Cuban have not responded to inquiries from Business Insider, leaving the future of this initiative and its impact on users uncertain. As the launch approaches, the effectiveness of the age-gating measures will be closely scrutinized, particularly by concerned parents like Cuban.