OpenAI fired one of its top security executives in early 2026 amid controversy over the upcoming launch of ChatGPT's "adult mode," according to The Wall Street Journal. The company justified the departure of Ryan Beiermeister, who held the position of vice president of product policy, citing sexual discrimination behavior towards a male colleague. However, Beiermeister strongly denies these allegations and claims her dismissal is linked to her criticisms of the new feature. The "adult mode" will allow verified users to access erotic content through ChatGPT, with a launch expected in the first quarter of 2026. Beiermeister, along with other employees, expressed concerns about the risks this feature could pose to certain users, particularly regarding the protection of minors and the effectiveness of mechanisms to prevent child exploitation. According to sources cited by The Wall Street Journal and reported by Europa Press, the executive considered OpenAI's measures insufficient to prevent adult content from reaching teenagers. OpenAI, led by Sam Altman, has stated that Beiermeister's departure was not related to her objections to the "adult mode" and acknowledged her contributions during her time at the company. However, the controversy has extended to other industry players: members of Meta's Advisory Council on "Wellbeing and AI" have also expressed concerns about the impact of this feature and have urged OpenAI to reconsider its implementation. Despite the criticism, Altman defends the "adult mode" as a way to treat adult users responsibly and plans to proceed with its launch.