OpenAI has revealed plans to support the creation of “mature” (18+) apps within ChatGPT, allowing developers to build applications with adult themes once robust age verification and content controls are in place. This announcement, made during OpenAI’s DevDay 2025 conference on October 6, 2025, comes alongside the launch of the Apps SDK, which enables third-party apps like Canva, Spotify, and Zillow to integrate directly into ChatGPT conversations. For app developers, content creators, and AI enthusiasts searching OpenAI mature ChatGPT apps, DevDay 2025 Apps SDK, or ChatGPT age-appropriate content, the move addresses long-standing requests for more flexible guidelines, currently restricting apps to content suitable for ages 13-17. OpenAI emphasized that mature apps will require “appropriate age verification and controls” to ensure safety, with implementation expected later in 2025. In the interim, parental controls for teens—launching end of September 2025—will include blackout hours, feature restrictions, and distress notifications, while underage users are automatically routed to a filtered experience blocking graphic sexual content.
The Apps SDK, available in preview for developers, uses the Model Context Protocol (MCP) to connect apps seamlessly, transforming ChatGPT into an “AI operating system” with embedded commerce and interfaces.
Mature Apps and Age Verification: Balancing Freedom and Safety
OpenAI’s current developer guidelines mandate apps be “appropriate for everyone, including people aged 13 to 17,” prohibiting explicit content like erotica or graphic violence. The upcoming mature app support will lift these for 18+ users, but with safeguards:
- Age Verification: Required for mature apps, potentially using ID checks or behavioral signals (e.g., OpenAI’s age prediction tech).
- Content Controls: Developers must implement warnings, blurring, or opt-ins; OpenAI will enforce via review processes.
- Timeline: “Eventually,” per OpenAI, with previews in Q4 2025; full rollout tied to verification rollout.
This follows OpenAI’s September 2025 teen ChatGPT launch with parental controls, including blackout hours and distress alerts. CEO Sam Altman noted: “We want ChatGPT to be a great way for people to make progress… with appropriate protections.”
| Content Tier | Current Guidelines | Future Mature Apps |
|---|---|---|
| Ages 13-17 | All Apps Safe | Filtered Experience |
| 18+ | Restricted | Verified Access with Controls |
| Verification | None | ID/Behavioral Checks |
Apps SDK: Building Inside ChatGPT
The Apps SDK enables developers to create interactive apps that run natively in ChatGPT, using MCP for data connections and natural language interfaces. Pilot partners include Booking.com, Canva, Coursera, Figma, Expedia, Spotify, and Zillow, with DoorDash, OpenTable, Target, and Uber coming soon.
- Developer Tools: Guidelines for visual consistency, accessibility, and monetization (forthcoming).
- User Experience: Apps appear in chats, adapting to context for tasks like booking or designing.
- Availability: Preview for logged-in users outside EU on Free, Plus, and Pro plans; directory launching soon.
Implications: A More Mature, Integrated ChatGPT
This policy shift could:
- Empower Creators: Enable adult-themed apps for storytelling or education with safeguards.
- Boost Ecosystem: Apps SDK fosters commerce, with payments via Agentic Commerce Protocol (ACP).
- Safety Focus: Aligns with FTC scrutiny on teen AI impacts, ensuring verified access.
Conclusion: OpenAI’s Mature Apps Era
OpenAI’s plan to allow “mature” ChatGPT apps with age verification expands developer creativity while prioritizing safety, following the Apps SDK’s launch. As teen controls roll out, it’s a balanced evolution. For builders, the SDK awaits—will mature apps redefine interactions? The prompts mature. Tech crunch
