ChatGPT New Code Leak Reveals "Adult Mode": Naughty Chat Exclusive to 18+

As more and more people begin turning to AI chatbots as emotional outlets, OpenAI appears to have picked up on the trend.

Recently, researchers discovered an intriguing string of code buried in the latest version of ChatGPT (v1.2026.055), pointing to a hidden feature called "Naughty Chat" — which, translated literally, means an adult chat mode.

The original code reads:

Naughty chats This setting lets ChatGPT use spicier, adult-themed language, when you ask. Available to users 18+ only. To help keep ChatGPT appropriate for everyone, some settings require age verification.

In plain terms: this mode allows ChatGPT to use bolder, adult-oriented language when you explicitly ask for it. It's restricted to users 18 and older, with the system assessing age through multiple dimensions — and when verification is in doubt, a third-party service called Persona is brought in for manual confirmation.

This didn't come out of nowhere. Back in October of last year, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman publicly stated that, based on the principle of "treating adults like adults," the platform planned to roll out an age verification system by December to unlock adult content for verified adult users. Not many people paid attention at the time.

Altman also drew a clear line: ChatGPT will not proactively bring up such topics — it will only shift its tone when a user explicitly requests it. This behavior is likewise reflected in the code logic.

The feature has yet to officially launch, but with the code already bundled into the client, a rollout likely isn't far off.