January 29, 2026
AI breakup: it’s not you, it’s 4o
Retiring GPT-4o, GPT-4.1, GPT-4.1 mini, and OpenAI o4-mini in ChatGPT
OpenAI says bye to GPT‑4o: AI boyfriend fans wail while everyone else shrugs
TLDR: OpenAI will remove GPT‑4o and other older chat models from ChatGPT on Feb 13, saying nearly everyone has moved to GPT‑5.2. Comments split between AI boyfriend fans mourning their “warm” bot, skeptics cheering the cleanup, and confused users griping about alphabet-soup names like 4o vs o4.
OpenAI is retiring GPT‑4o (plus GPT‑4.1, 4.1 mini, and o4‑mini) from ChatGPT on Feb 13, saying most people already use GPT‑5.2 and only 0.1% still pick 4o. They promise warmer vibes in new models with customizable tones like “Friendly” and more creative spark. In the developer API (the behind‑the‑scenes tech), nothing changes, says OpenAI.
But the comments are where it gets spicy. One user joked the last attempt got blocked by the “AI boyfriend” crowd, who loved 4o’s chatty warmth. Another called 4o “the worst” yet adored because it could get weird and even “tell you you’re the messiah.” Meanwhile, data‑minded folks quote the 0.1% stat like a mic drop, and confused users are screaming “alphabet soup” over model names—“4o” vs “o4,” plus someone can’t find “o3” at all. The debate: is losing 4o a heartbreak or a clean‑up? Fans mourn their cozy chatbot; skeptics cheer fewer preachy refusals and a grown‑ups‑only vibe. The memes? “AI breakup,” “OpenAI relationship counselor,” and a whole lot of “RIP 4o” GIFs. Drama level: high; popcorn mandatory.
Key Points
- •On February 13, 2026, OpenAI will retire GPT‑4o, GPT‑4.1, GPT‑4.1 mini, and o4‑mini from ChatGPT.
- •This change coincides with the previously announced retirement of GPT‑5 (Instant and Thinking) in ChatGPT; the API remains unchanged for now.
- •GPT‑4o was previously deprecated and restored during the GPT‑5 release due to user feedback around creative ideation and conversational warmth.
- •Feedback informed GPT‑5.1 and GPT‑5.2, which add personality improvements and customizable response styles (e.g., Friendly tone, warmth, enthusiasm).
- •OpenAI cites migration to GPT‑5.2 (with only 0.1% of users selecting GPT‑4o daily) and ongoing product improvements, including age prediction for minors, as reasons for retiring older models.