OpenAI CFO acknowledges ChatGPT growth slowdown tied to content restrictions
Nov 13, 2025
Key Points
- OpenAI's CFO Sarah Frier acknowledged on an investor call that ChatGPT's engagement has declined due to content restrictions implemented in early August.
- The company plans to loosen content guardrails for adults starting in December, signaling it views the policy as a drag on user time spent on the platform.
- The disclosure leaked to the press during a fundraising period, raising questions about who benefits from broadcasting weakness while OpenAI seeks capital for infrastructure.
Summary
OpenAI's CFO Sarah Frier told investors on a private call that ChatGPT's growth has slowed due to content restrictions implemented in early August. ChatGPT added users from 250 million weekly in September 2024 to over 800 million now, but research firms tracking the app have reported stalled growth in recent months. When asked about the gap, Frier initially pushed back on third-party data before acknowledging that time spent on ChatGPT declined slightly after the restrictions went live. OpenAI plans to loosen those guardrails for adults starting in December, signaling the company views the content policy as a drag on engagement. The disclosure came via a leak to Sources reported by Alex Heath, attributed to someone present on the investor call itself. The timing raises questions about motive, as OpenAI is currently seeking capital for major infrastructure buildouts.