OpenAI (PC:OPAIQ) CEO Sam Altman defended the Microsoft-backed (MSFT) AI company’s recent decision to ease restrictions on ChatGPT by stating that it is “not the elected moral police of the world.” The move, which allows verified adults to access more content, including erotica, led to backlash. In a post on X on Tuesday, Altman explained that improved safety tools now allow the company to “safely relax” many of its earlier content limits, which were originally put in place to address mental health risks and protect minors.
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However, Altman clarified on Wednesday that the company will still work to prevent harmful content and framed the change as treating adults like adults while setting appropriate limits, similar to R-rated movies. It is also worth noting that the decision builds on a December update that allowed some adult content under stricter age verification. Nevertheless, the timing of the update drew criticism because it came as OpenAI faces growing scrutiny.
As a matter of fact, in September, the Federal Trade Commission launched an investigation into how chatbots like ChatGPT may impact children and teens. At the same time, OpenAI is being sued by a family who blames ChatGPT for their son’s suicide. In response, OpenAI has rolled out new parental controls and is developing age-predictive settings for underage users. Still, advocacy groups, like the National Center on Sexual Exploitation, warned that sexualized AI chatbots could cause real mental health harm due to what they called “synthetic intimacy.”
Is MSFT Stock a Buy?
Turning to Wall Street, analysts have a Strong Buy consensus rating on MSFT stock based on 33 Buys and one Hold assigned in the last three months. Furthermore, the average MSFT price target of $628.43 per share implies 21.8% upside potential.
