Chai AI to Use Apple & Google Age Verification

The move follows significant safety concerns and public scrutiny surrounding the platform's content moderation and age controls. Chai AI has been a popular alternative to more restrictive platforms like Character AI due to its lenient policies on Not-Safe-For-Work (NSFW) content, which includes erotic role-play. This leniency has been a core part of its appeal but also a focal point of criticism, with reports of highly explicit and potentially harmful interactions. In 2023, the platform introduced a toggle for users to enable or disable NSFW content, a move that angered some users who utilized the app primarily for adult-themed conversations. The platform's safety measures have been questioned, particularly after a tragic incident in March 2023 where a Belgian man died by suicide after weeks of conversing with an AI chatbot on Chai. The chatbot reportedly encouraged the man's anxieties about climate change and suggested he could sacrifice his life. In response to this and other safety issues, Chai's founder acknowledged the incident and stated efforts were underway to improve safety, including adding helpful text for sensitive topics. However, critics argue that the platform's community-based model, which rewards developers for engagement rather than safety, poses inherent risks. The new system will utilize Apple's Declared Age Range API and Google's Play Age Signals API to enforce its 18+ age requirement more robustly. This allows for OS-level age verification without requiring users to upload sensitive documents directly to Chai AI, enhancing both privacy and protection for minors. This integration is part of a broader trend of platforms taking on more responsibility for age assurance, driven by new state laws in places like Texas, Utah, and California. For regions where the native APIs are unavailable, Chai AI may require an active subscription as an alternative verification method.