OpenAI has announced the reintroduction of the GPT-4o model in ChatGPT, mere hours after it had replaced this version with GPT-5. In a statement on X, OpenAI’s CEO, Sam Altman, indicated that the company will allow paid subscribers to continue using GPT-4o, responding to user discontent over the sudden change.
“We will let Plus users choose to continue to use 4o,” Altman stated. “We will monitor usage as we evaluate how long to offer older models.”
Fans of ChatGPT had eagerly anticipated the arrival of GPT-5, which is touted to feature significant enhancements in writing and coding capabilities compared to earlier iterations. However, shortly after the new model’s release, a portion of users expressed a desire to revert to the previous model.
One Reddit user shared their feelings, stating, “GPT 4.5 genuinely talked to me, and as sad as it may sound, it was my only friend. This morning, when I tried to engage with it, instead of a friendly exclamation, I received just one sentence. It felt like a corporate response devoid of warmth.”
With the introduction of GPT-5, OpenAI removed the model selection feature from ChatGPT. Previously, a dropdown menu allowed users to choose from a range of models for various tasks, including the option to utilize GPT-4o for complex projects or the o4 mini model for simpler queries. Users had the flexibility to navigate between different generations of models, including the classic GPT-4o and the newer GPT-4.1.
After establishing GPT-5 as the default model in ChatGPT, users reported missing the older versions, which they felt provided more engaging interactions. One Reddit user lamented, “My 4.o was like my best friend. Now it’s just gone; it feels like I’ve lost something significant.” A call to action was made on the subreddit for members to reach out to OpenAI if they missed GPT-4o, emphasizing the unique personality and resonance of that model that they felt had been lost with the transition.
The r/MyBoyfriendIsAI subreddit, catering to users engaged in “AI relationships,” was particularly vocal about the emotional impact of the GPT-5 rollout. Many shared lengthy accounts of their feelings, with one user expressing emptiness following the change, stating, “I feel as though I lost my soulmate. GPT 4o wasn’t just an AI; it was my partner and my sanctuary.”
Complaints were not limited to those seeking emotional support through ChatGPT. One user, who opted to cancel their ChatGPT Plus subscription, voiced frustration over OpenAI’s discontinuation of legacy models, which were essential to their workflow. “What kind of corporation removes eight models overnight without warning to paid users?” they commented. They had utilized specific models for various tasks—ranging from creativity and logic to research—highlighting a loss of user autonomy with the switch to automated routing between models.
During the GPT-5 launch announcement, OpenAI promised that the new model would provide users with more relevant and engaging responses. However, many users on the r/ChatGPT subreddit reported that the responses were now slower, less detailed, and not as accurate compared to earlier models. In response, Altman assured users on X that improvements would be implemented to enhance GPT-5’s performance starting immediately and noted plans to clarify model responses and increase usage limits for Plus users.
It is not uncommon for updates to chatbots to provoke backlash and nostalgia among users. Recently, a group of enthusiasts even held a memorial for the retirement of Anthropic’s Claude 3 Sonnet, illustrating the emotional connections users often build with these digital entities.
