OpenAI (PC:OPAIQ) is searching for new ways to increase its revenue stream. The company has made significant financial commitments, and annual revenue of $13 billion won’t cut it. Now, its chief executive, Sam Altman, said the company may soon ease its long-standing ban on explicit material. He made the comment during a media tour of the new Stargate AI data center in Abilene, Texas, which OpenAI operates with Microsoft (MSFT).
Elevate Your Investing Strategy:
- Take advantage of TipRanks Premium at 50% off! Unlock powerful investing tools, advanced data, and expert analyst insights to help you invest with confidence.
The company currently blocks all “not safe for work” content, including sexual themes and nudity, across its models. However, Altman said new safety systems could allow “permitted erotica” under certain conditions.
He explained that OpenAI had “mitigated serious mental health issues” linked to moderation and added that new tools now make it possible to “safely relax the restrictions in most cases.” Still, Altman did not define what “permitted erotica” means or how far the changes might go. The phrase left analysts and users unsure whether OpenAI plans to allow creative or literary work with sexual elements, or if the company will permit more explicit forms of expression.
Unclear Definition, Possible Implications
The lack of clear limits raises questions about what kind of adult content OpenAI would allow. The company’s models, such as ChatGPT and DALL·E, have strict filters that block any sexual text or imagery. A looser policy could let creators develop romance stories, art, or writing that includes mature themes, while still banning graphic or illegal content. However, without a defined boundary, the line between “artistic expression” and “explicit content” could be difficult to manage.
If OpenAI does introduce a new framework, it could create a new revenue stream from entertainment and creative markets that rely on AI-driven storytelling. At the same time, the company would face new legal and reputational risks. Global laws differ on sexual content, and platforms that host AI outputs may demand strong safety and age controls.
Business Ties and Broader Reach
Meanwhile, Microsoft, which supports OpenAI through Azure cloud services and product integration, may also need to review how such a change fits within its own guidelines. Any shift could affect how enterprise and consumer users access GPT models, especially across creative and marketing platforms.
For now, OpenAI has not set a timeline for revising its policy or clarified what level of adult content might be approved. The company’s statement suggests a cautious attempt to balance innovation, safety, and user demand while maintaining global compliance.
Using TipRanks’ Comparison Tool, we’ve compared some of the notable companies that employ ChatGPT, similar to OpenAI’s ChatGPT.
