After months of prioritising its chatbot platform, OpenAI is reportedly returning to a broader product strategy. The company’s internal “code red” phase, which had placed heavy focus on ChatGPT development, has now ended after nearly 4 months.
The emergency development push began in December 2025, when CEO Sam Altman reportedly declared a company-wide “code red.” During this period, most non-ChatGPT projects were put on hold while teams focused on improving the popular AI chatbot.
According to a report shared by journalist Alex Heath on Substack, the code red phase concluded after the release of the GPT-5.4 AI model earlier this week. Sources cited in the report said the company lifted the restriction following the model’s launch.
Earlier, Fidji Simo had also indicated in a podcast that the code red would end once a new AI model was released. She noted that the internal directive mainly affected ChatGPT and product research teams, while long-term research groups continued their work.
During the code red phase, the company launched 3 new AI models along with several updates and features for ChatGPT.
With the focus period now over, the company is expected to expand attention to other products and initiatives. One platform that could see new updates is Sora, which may receive additional features in the coming weeks.
However, another development has surfaced alongside the end of the code red period. The company has reportedly delayed the rollout of ChatGPT’s Adult Mode once again.
An OpenAI spokesperson said the feature has been paused as the company focuses on other priorities such as improving intelligence, personality upgrades, personalisation, and making ChatGPT more proactive.
“We still believe in the principle of treating adults like adults, but getting the experience right will take more time,” the spokesperson said.
The Adult Mode feature was first announced in October 2025. It was initially scheduled for release in December 2025, then postponed to the first quarter of the current year. The company has not provided a new timeline for its launch.
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