OpenAI gives ChatGPT models the chop – two weeks' notice, take it or leave it
OpenAI is sunsetting some of its ChatGPT models next month, a move it knows "will feel frustrating for some users."
GPT‑4o, GPT‑4.1, GPT‑4.1 mini, and OpenAI o4-mini are on the way out on February 13, alongside GPT-5 (Instant and Thinking). The retirements apply to ChatGPT. "In the API, there are no changes at this time," the company stated.
READ MORE
It isn't the first time OpenAI has attempted to pull the plug on GPT-4o – the model was deprecated last year following the rollout of GPT-5. However, the subsequent outcry resulted in a U-turn, and OpenAI restored both the model and the ability to select it.
According to OpenAI, users "preferred GPT‑4o's conversational style and warmth," prompting it to tweak subsequent releases. Most usage is now on GPT-5.2, with only 0.1 percent of users choosing GPT-4o each day.
After the furor, OpenAI boss Sam Altman said of GPT-4o: "If we ever do deprecate it, we will give plenty of notice." Confirmation of the latest changes is dated January 29, meaning there are two weeks before the model will be pulled from ChatGPT.
The response has been considerably more muted compared to last year's deprecation attempt. One user on Reddit grumbled: "This sucks. I still use 4o daily. It just has a different personality and gives better nuance to certain questions. I'll use 5.2 as well, but it doesn't replace 4o. I don't see why they can't just leave it well alone."
But considering the low usage levels and the fact most users will have stuck with the defaults and gone nowhere with GPT-4o, the decision is understandable, despite the relatively short notice.
"Changes like this take time to adjust to... and we didn't make this decision lightly," OpenAI said.
Probably best not to get too attached to that AI virtual buddy. You never know when somebody might decide that the time has come to decommission it. ®
