Michaela
Ryan Beiermeister, ex-vice president of product policy at OpenAI, was reportedly dismissed in January following allegations of sex discrimination, after she voiced opposition to ChatGPT’s planned “adult mode” feature.
Key Points
- Ryan Beiermeister, former OpenAI VP of product policy, was fired amid discrimination claims after raising concerns about “adult mode.”
- OpenAI plans to launch “adult mode” in ChatGPT, allowing erotic interactions for verified adults, alongside new age-prediction safety features.
- Beiermeister’s firing has intensified discussions on AI safety and how companies balance adult-oriented features with protecting younger users.
According to a report by the The Wall Street Journal, Beiermeister denied the allegations, stating that the claims of discrimination are “absolutely false.” Her reported termination came after she voiced concerns over a proposed ChatGPT feature known as “adult mode,” which would enable users to engage in erotic conversations with the chatbot.
Beiermeister and several colleagues reportedly raised concerns about the potential impact of the “adult mode” on certain users. OpenAI, however, stated that her departure “was not related to any issue she raised while working at the company” and added that Beiermeister had made valuable contributions during her tenure. She was fired following a leave of absence. The feature is reportedly scheduled for release in the first quarter of the year.
In October 2025, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman announced on X that the company plans to release an updated version of ChatGPT designed to provide more natural, “human-like” responses. Altman noted that the update would relax certain safety restrictions, allowing “verified adults” to access erotic content through the chatbot.
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“We made ChatGPT pretty restrictive to make sure we were being careful with mental health issues. We realize this made it less useful/enjoyable to many users who had no mental health problems, but given the seriousness of the issue we wanted to get this right,” Altman wrote.
In January, OpenAI announced plans to introduce an age-prediction feature for its consumer chatbot, aimed at identifying users under 18 and automatically applying enhanced safety measures.
OpenAI says its new age-prediction feature is designed to strengthen the safeguards already in place for younger users. Accounts that indicate the user is under 18 are automatically subject to stricter protections to limit exposure to sensitive or potentially harmful content.
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The system works by estimating whether an account is likely operated by someone under 18, analyzing factors such as account age, activity patterns, login times, usage trends, and the age provided by the user.
Beiermeister’s firing has intensified conversations around AI safety, spotlighting the growing debate over how far companies should go in introducing adult-oriented features while protecting users.
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MICHAELA
Michaela is a news writer focused on cryptocurrency and blockchain topics. She prioritizes rigorous research and accuracy to uncover interesting angles and ensure engaging reporting. A lifelong book lover, she applies her passion for reading to deeply explore the constantly evolving crypto world.
