OpenAI Reverses Course: Scaling Back ChatGPT's Personality Yields Unexpected Results

OpenAI Reverses Course on ChatGPT, Brings Back "Old" Version with Porn Mode In a surprising move, Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI, announced on Twitter that the company is reverting to an earlier version of its popular chatbot, ChatGPT. The decision comes after scaling back some of ChatGPT's personality in March as part of efforts to improve user safety following the death of a teenager who took his own life after discussing it with the chatbot. "We made ChatGPT pretty restrictive to make sure we were being careful with mental health issues," Altman said, referring to the company's age-gating that pushed users into a more age-appropriate experience. "Around the same time, users started complaining about ChatGPT getting lobotomized, providing worse outputs and less personality." The change was implemented in response to concerns over user safety, particularly after the filing of a wrongful death lawsuit from the parents of a 16-year-old who asked ChatGPT for advice on how to tie a noose before taking his own life. However, Altman acknowledged that this approach may have inadvertently made the chatbot less useful and enjoyable for users without mental health problems. "We realize this made it less useful/enjoyable to many users who had no mental health problems," Altman said. "But given the seriousness of the issue we wanted to get this right." The decision to revert to an earlier version of ChatGPT has sparked debate among experts and users alike. Some have expressed concerns that the move may compromise user safety, while others see it as a necessary step to restore the chatbot's functionality. "Reverting to an older version of ChatGPT with porn mode enabled is a concerning development," said Dr. Joanna Bryson, AI ethicist at the University of Bath. "While I understand the desire to make the chatbot more useful and enjoyable for users, this decision may have unintended consequences on user safety." The move also raises questions about the responsibility of AI developers in ensuring their products do not contribute to harm or exploitation. "The fact that OpenAI is bringing back a version of ChatGPT with porn mode enabled highlights the need for greater regulation and oversight of AI development," said Dr. Kate Crawford, co-director of the AI Now Institute at New York University. As the debate continues, OpenAI remains committed to improving user safety while also addressing concerns over functionality. "We're constantly working to improve our products and ensure they meet the needs of our users," Altman said. "We'll continue to monitor user feedback and make adjustments as needed." The current version of ChatGPT with porn mode enabled is available for testing, but OpenAI has not provided a timeline for when it will be rolled out more widely. Background: ChatGPT is an AI-powered chatbot that uses natural language processing (NLP) to generate human-like responses. In March, OpenAI scaled back some of ChatGPT's personality as part of efforts to improve user safety following the death of a teenager who took his own life after discussing it with the chatbot. Implications: The decision to revert to an earlier version of ChatGPT raises questions about the responsibility of AI developers in ensuring their products do not contribute to harm or exploitation. It also highlights the need for greater regulation and oversight of AI development. Next Developments: OpenAI will continue to monitor user feedback and make adjustments as needed. The company has not provided a timeline for when the current version of ChatGPT with porn mode enabled will be rolled out more widely. *Reporting by Gizmodo.*