Most people outside of Silicon Valley can recognize a hierarchy in the value of artificial intelligence. At best, it produces a similar effect to the 19th-century invention of the dishwasher: It does the grunt work humans don’t like to free them for more creative or enjoyable tasks. But now AI seems to be taking over the creative world, with major newspapers inadvertently permitting AI-hallucinated books to slip into their summer reading lists and talent agencies vying to sign Tilly Norwood, a young British actress who doesn’t really exist. Yes, you guessed it: She’s AI, too.
The AI creep continues. Worse than overtaking the arts, it’s now hoping to encroach upon a more intimate space: your bedroom. OpenAI CEO Sam Altman announced on X this week that at the end of the year, “as part of our ‘treat adult users like adults’ principle,” ChatGPT will allow “erotica for verified adults.” Perfect, just what we need!
What on earth Altman could possibly be thinking is a good question. Right up there with “How will he ensure that children are prevented from accessing this feature?” (he can’t) and “Is he trying to distract from the scandal this summer where ChatGPT allegedly helped a teenager kill himself?” (he most certainly is). This announcement also comes just months after Meta AI was exposed for having no guardrails against engaging in sensual conversations with minors.
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