OpenAI’s Next ChatGPT Update Brings Back Personality — and Adds Adult Mode

Key Takeaways

• ChatGPT is bringing its personality back: OpenAI's next update revives the warmth and spontaneity of GPT-4o, with customizable tone, emoji use, and conversational style.
• Mature Mode" incoming: Verified adults will gain access to age-gated content, including erotica and other mature themes; a major reversal of OpenAI's long-standing content restrictions.
• From assistant to companion: The update marks a shift from productivity to personalization, positioning ChatGPT as a flexible digital partner rather than just a tool for output.
• Balancing freedom and safety: OpenAI's new approach tests whether user choice and creative freedom can coexist with strong ethical safeguards and content moderation.

OpenAI CEO Sam Altman has announced that a new version of ChatGPT is on the way: one that promises to be more like its original version in personality, with a few added extras.

The upcoming update will introduce looser filters, customizable tones, more emoji-filled and colorful personalities, and even an optional adult mode" for verified users.

This plan marks a clear philosophical shift from OpenAI: from rigid professionalism to more flexibility and choice for users.

For months, since the introduction of GPT-5, users have been complaining that the chatbot has started sounding more like a corporate compliance bot" than a conversational partner.

Now, OpenAI seems to be taking this feedback on board and preparing to loosen the reins.

But as Sam Altman reopens the door to a freer, more expressive ChatGPT, we're faced with one question. Is this a return to creativity or a new frontier for controversy?

The Return of GPT-4o Personality

When GPT-4o launched earlier this year, users praised its humor, natural rhythm, and sometimes, even its empathy. This was a stark contrast to the more formal, restrained feel of GPT-5 that followed; many missed the charm, wit, and spontaneity that made GPT-4o feel human."

Now, OpenAI says the next ChatGPT update will reintroduce that personality. Sam Altman announced on X that users will soon be able to customize tone, emoji use, and conversational style to match their preferences.

In response to a commenter on X, Altman agreed that the goal of this move is to make ChatGPT feel less like a compliance bot," and more like a person you could actually talk to."

The move directly responds to users being tired of bland, overly sanitized AI. And in doing so, it positions OpenAI to compete with more expressive rivals, such as Anthropic's Claude and Meta's AI avatars, which both emphasize personality and charm.

ChatGPT 18+: The Mature Mode" Controversy

The most headline-grabbing change in OpenAI's upcoming ChatGPT update is the introduction of a new mature mode." This feature will allow verified users aged 18 and above a choice to access erotica generation and other age-restricted content.

As reported by The Guardian, this mode will enable explicit storytelling, romantic writing, and adult themes, all within ethical boundaries defined by OpenAI's revised content policy.

This is a significant reversal for the company, which has long maintained a blanket ban on sexual or violent material except in the context of education or history.

The rollout will also come with age-gating tools, ID verification, and parental controls for younger users: all of which are designed to keep the new features compartmentalized.

Despite the introduction of age-gating, the move has been met with controversy. Critics warn that it could open the door to misuse, consent issues, and mental health risks, while supporters hail it as a much-needed recognition of creative freedom and adult autonomy.

The Bigger Picture: From Productivity Tool to Digital Companion

The latest ChatGPT update marks a significant shift in philosophy for OpenAI, transforming the chatbot from a work-oriented productivity assistant into a personal companion that adapts to each user's tone, context, and even mood.

This move is one among a broader trend sweeping the AI chatbot industry. Platforms like Meta's Emu, Google's Gemini personas, and Replika are all working toward a similar goal: making AI feel more emotionally responsive and less bot-like."

Altman's move suggests that OpenAI no longer sees ChatGPT as just a tool for productivity and output. Instead, it's starting to view it as something closer to a real human conversation partner, capable of being serious, playful, and even intimate.

However, this shift clearly blurs a few boundaries. As ChatGPT becomes more expressive and even adult-oriented, the line between utility and companionship becomes increasingly blurred, raising questions about emotional attachment, privacy, and authenticity in AI interactions.

For OpenAI, this is a balancing act between freedom, safety, expression, and ethics. The new ChatGPT shows a maturing philosophy: trust users with choice, but ensure that that choice doesn't compromise integrity.

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