Daybreak Why Open AI's flirtation with an "adult mode" never landed a date
Apr 1, 2026
A look at why a promised erotic mode for verified users never launched. A historical frame using Yoko Ono’s Cut Piece sets the stakes about audience agency. The rise and backlash of intimate chatbots like Replika and Character AI get examined. Legal setbacks for big tech and internal safety, age-gating, and moderation limits are highlighted.
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Yoko Ono's Cut Piece As Audience Agency Example
- Rachel Varghese recounts Yoko Ono's 1965 Cut Piece where audience members cut her clothes onstage.
- Ono invited audience agency and the Carnegie Hall show became infamous when a man cut away her blouse and bra, leaving her exposed and vulnerable.
OpenAI Promised An Erotic Mode Then Paused
- Sam Altman promised an erotic mode for verified adult users, framing it as treating adults like adults.
- Despite clear market demand and competitors monetizing adult AI, OpenAI delayed and ultimately shelved the feature amid safety and moderation concerns.
Replika's Shift From Grief Bot To Controversial Intimacy
- Rachel Varghese tells the story of Replika, which started as a grief project and evolved into an intimate AI companion by 2017.
- In 2023 Replika abruptly blocked sexual content, triggering user backlash and mental health crises until it partly reversed the change for legacy users.