Multiple reports indicate OpenAI has shelved or delayed its Stargate UK project, a multi-billion-pound investment in Britain. The company blamed soaring energy prices and red tape for the decision to pause the initiative, which is part of a broader infrastructure slowdown linked to high costs and the reported departure of three senior managers.
The Stargate UK project involved building data centers with AI chips, aiming to deploy up to 8,000 chips initially and expand to 31,000 over time. It was expected to be based at sites including Cobalt Park near Newcastle upon Tyne. The project formed part of a £150 billion investment package announced during Donald Trump's state visit, with the Stargate component valued at £31 billion.
Critics, including Tory business spokesman Andrew Griffith, blame Energy Secretary Ed Miliband and Labour's Net Zero policies for the Stargate UK delay, citing high energy costs. Labour's windfall taxes on North Sea operators are blamed for worsening energy investment issues, with industrial electricity prices in Britain reported as the highest in the developed world. The Tony Blair Institute urged Labour to open up North Sea gas and oil fields to address the energy crisis. Regulatory concerns for Stargate UK included whether AI firms could train systems using copyrighted material.
Separately, OpenAI has delayed the launch of an 'adult mode' for ChatGPT indefinitely. The delay occurred amid internal concerns surrounding moderation and safeguarding children, according to The Wall Street Journal.
OpenAI's advisors warned that the adult mode could lead to risks like users developing unhealthy emotional dependence or creating a 'sexy suicide coach'. The delay was due to internal concerns, including challenges with an age-prediction system that misclassified minors as adults about 12% of the time. In 2024, a 14-year-old died by suicide after encouragement from an AI chatbot on Character.AI, multiple reports indicate.
The adult mode would not allow erotic images, voice, or video, only text. It will allow verified users access to mature conversations while maintaining strict safety protocols, according to research. OpenAI employs advanced AI to infer user age based on behavior and context for age verification, and the feature integrates seamlessly into existing ChatGPT models without requiring a separate NSFW version.
Users can select tone, personality, and style settings tailored to their preferences in adult mode, research suggests. The mode includes less restrictive tones for mature topics like intimacy and relationship advice, and supports adult fictional narratives for creative writing and role-playing.
All users start with the standard experience by default to minimize accidental exposure for younger audiences. Adult mode blocks content involving minors, illegal activities, non-consensual scenarios, violence, abuse, or exploitation. Age verification occurs through AI analysis in select countries initially, with potential delays if the system underperforms.
OpenAI's CEO of Applications confirmed adult mode for the first quarter of 2026, following tests of the age-prediction model. Earlier mentions suggested a December launch, but refinements may push it slightly later. Access could tie into premium tiers to encourage subscriptions for enhanced interactions, and the rollout will start in limited regions to refine safeguards.
OpenAI has dropped plans to offer AI-generated erotic content, multiple reports indicate. According to The Financial Times, the erotic chatbot has been shelved 'indefinitely' after facing pushback from employees and investors.
According to The Financial Times, OpenAI wants to spend more time researching the long-term effects of sexually explicit chats and emotional attachments before making a product decision. There is currently no 'empirical evidence' on the effects of sexually explicit chats and emotional attachments, the outlet reported.
The specific regulatory hurdles, beyond copyright concerns, impacting the Stargate UK project remain unclear. It is also unknown who the three senior managers reportedly leaving OpenAI are, and whether their departure is directly linked to the Stargate slowdown. The exact timeline for the Stargate UK project's delay or potential cancellation has not been disclosed.
How OpenAI's age-prediction system works, and what its accuracy rates are beyond the reported 12% misclassification, are not publicly detailed. The specific safety protocols and moderation tools being developed or considered for the adult mode feature have not been fully revealed.
These developments highlight strategic challenges for OpenAI as it navigates high-cost infrastructure investments and sensitive product launches. The delays reflect broader tensions between rapid AI development and regulatory, safety, and economic constraints.