ChatGPT just got a massive upgrade with the rollout of OpenAI’s latest GPT-5.2 model, bringing faster, smarter responses and improved reasoning and long-document processing. However, the new model doesn’t come with the adult mode CEO Sam Altman promised earlier this year.
Back in October, Altman outlined plans to bring back a less restrictive version of ChatGPT that would have a more expressive personality similar to GPT-4o. At the time, he also teased an adult mode that would “allow even more, like erotica for verified adults.”
The feature was initially scheduled to debut this month, following the rollout of OpenAI’s age estimation technology, which is designed to help ChatGPT accurately distinguish teens from adults. According to The Verge, the release has now been pushed back.
Adult mode delayed as OpenAI tests ChatGPT’s age verification model
During a recent briefing, Fidji Simo, OpenAI’s CEO of Applications, told reporters that adult mode is now expected to roll out in the first quarter of 2026. Simo added that the delay reflects the company’s focus on improving its age prediction system before introducing the feature.
The age prediction model is currently in early testing in select countries, where OpenAI is evaluating its ability to identify teens without misclassifying adults. It is designed to automatically apply safeguards when it identifies a user as under 18, ensuring adult mode is only available to verified adults.
This careful rollout reflects a broader trend across online platforms, many of which are strengthening age verification systems in response to new regulations. For OpenAI, the challenge is striking a balance between offering adults a less restricted ChatGPT experience while keeping younger users safe. By taking a cautious approach and extensively testing its age verification system, OpenAI is working to ensure underage users don’t get access to adult mode when it rolls out early next year.