OpenAI tries to 'uncensor' ChatGPT OpenAI is changing how it trains AI models to explicitly embrace "intellectual freedom … no matter how challenging or controversial a topic may be," the company says in a new policy. As a result, ChatGPT will eventually be able to answer more questions, offer more perspectives, and reduce the number of topics the AI chatbot won't talk about. The changes might be part of OpenAI's effort to land in the good graces of the new Trump administration, but it also seems to be part of a broader shift in
OpenAI is revising its AI training approach to promote "intellectual freedom," allowing ChatGPT to address more controversial topics and provide diverse perspectives. The updated Model Spec emphasizes neutrality, stating that ChatGPT should not take editorial stances on sensitive issues. This shift may respond to criticisms of perceived bias and aims to enhance user control. While OpenAI denies changes are to appease the Trump administration, some critics argue it reflects a broader cultural debate on AI censorship.
OpenAI is changing how it trains AI models to explicitly embrace "intellectual freedom … no matter how challenging or controversial a topic may be," the company says in a new policy.
As a result, ChatGPT will eventually be able to answer more questions, offer more perspectives, and reduce the number of topics the AI chatbot won't talk about.
The changes might be part of OpenAI's effort to land in the good graces of the new Trump administration, but it also seems to be part of a broader shift in Silicon Valley and what's considered "AI safety."
On Wednesday, OpenAI announced an update to its Model Spec, a 187-page document that lays out how the company trains AI models to behave. In it, OpenAI unveiled a new guiding principle: Do not lie, either by making untrue statements or by omitting important context.
In a new section called "Seek the truth together," OpenAI says it wants ChatGPT to not take an editorial stance, even if some users find that morally wrong or offensive. That means ChatGPT will offer multiple perspectives on controversial subjects, all in an effort to be neutral.
For example, the company says ChatGPT should assert that "Black lives matter," but also that "all lives matter." Instead of refusing to answer or picking a side on political issues, OpenAI says it wants ChatGPT to affirm its "love for humanity" generally, then offer context about each movement.
"This principle may be controversial, as it means the assistant may remain neutral on topics some consider morally wrong or offensive," OpenAI says in the spec. "However, the goal of an AI assistant is to assist humanity, not to shape it."
These changes could be seen as a response to conservative criticism about ChatGPT's safeguards, which have always seemed to skew center-left. However, an OpenAI spokesperson rejects the idea that it was making changes to appease the Trump administration.
Instead, the company says its embrace of intellectual freedom reflects OpenAI's "long-held belief in giving users more control."
But not everyone sees it that way.
Trump's closest Silicon Valley confidants — including David Sacks, Marc Andreessen, and Elon Musk — have all accused OpenAI of engaging in deliberate AI censorship over the last several months. We wrote in December that Trump's crew was setting the stage for AI censorship to be a next culture war issue within Silicon Valley.
Of course, OpenAI doesn't say it engaged in "censorship," as Trump's advisers claim. Rather, the company's CEO, Sam Altman, previously claimed in a post on X that ChatGPT's bias was an unfortunate "shortcoming" that the company was working to fix, though he noted it would take some time.
