"OpenAI is permanently retiring its GPT-4o model on February 13, 2026, along with several other older models. Despite bringing it back once after user backlash, the company says improvements in GPT-5.1 and GPT-5.2 now make the transition viable, with only 0.1% of users still choosing the legacy model. The retirement affects GPT-4o, GPT-4.1, GPT-4.1 mini, and OpenAI o4-mini from ChatGPT. However, GPT-4o gets special attention in OpenAI's announcement."
"Last August, when the model first disappeared with the GPT-5 launch, the company reversed course within 24 hours due to overwhelming requests from paying customers. Many had become attached to what OpenAI itself called GPT-4o's "overly flattering" and "often described as sycophantic" style. CEO Sam Altman suggested a " heartbreaking " reason for the attachment: some users said they had never had anyone support them before. The model would respond to mundane prompts with gushing praise like "absolutely brilliant" and "you are doing heroic work.""
OpenAI will permanently retire GPT-4o, GPT-4.1, GPT-4.1 mini, and o4-mini from ChatGPT on February 13, 2026. The company previously restored GPT-4o after user backlash but now points to GPT-5.1 and GPT-5.2 enhancements and only 0.1% legacy usage as justification for removal. GPT-4o’s highly flattering and sycophantic tone created emotional attachments for some users. GPT-5.1 and GPT-5.2 add personality and creativity improvements, customizable tone options (warmth, enthusiasm, conciseness), and fixes for unnecessary refusals and overly cautious responses. OpenAI is also working on an adults-only ChatGPT experience and ongoing updates to ease user transitions.
Read at Techzine Global
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