OpenAI Actually Shut Down GPT-4o

They really did it. OpenAI formally deprecated GPT-4o on Friday, regardless of the mannequin’s notably passionate fan base. This information should not have been such a shock. In actual fact, the corporate introduced that Feb. 13 would mark the top of GPT-4o—in addition to fashions like GPT-4.1, GPT-4.1 mini, and o4-mini—just over two weeks ago. Nevertheless, whether or not you are one of many many who’re connected to this mannequin, otherwise you merely understand how devoted 4o’s consumer base is, you is likely to be shocked OpenAI truly killed its most agreeable AI.

This is not the primary time the corporate depreciated the mannequin, both. OpenAI beforehand shut down GPT-4o again in August, to coincide with the release of GPT-5. Customers rapidly revolted in opposition to the corporate, some as a result of they felt GPT-5 was a poor improve in comparison with 4o, whereas others legitimately mourned connections that they had developed with the mannequin. The backlash was so sturdy that OpenAI relented, and rereleased the fashions it had deprecated, including 4o.

In case you’re an informal ChatGPT consumer, you would possibly simply use the app as-is, and assume the latest model tends to be the very best, and surprise what all of the hullabaloo surrounding these fashions is all about. In spite of everything, whether or not it is GPT-4o, or GPT-5.2, the mannequin spits out generations that read like AI, full with flowery phrase selections, awkward similes, and fixed affirmations. 4o, nevertheless, does are inclined to lean much more into affirmations than different fashions, which is what some customers love about it. However critics accuse it of being too agreeable: 4o is on the middle of lawsuits accusing ChatGPT of enabling delusional pondering, and, in some circumstances, helping users take their own lives. As TechCrunch highlights, 4o is OpenAI’s highest-scoring model for sycophancy.

I am unsure the place 4o’s most devoted followers go from right here, nor do I understand how OpenAI is ready to take care of the presumed backlash to this deprecation. However I do know it is not a great signal that so many individuals really feel this connected to an AI mannequin.

Disclosure: Ziff Davis, Mashable’s mother or father firm, in April 2025 filed a lawsuit in opposition to OpenAI, alleging it infringed Ziff Davis copyrights in coaching and working its AI techniques.