OpenAI will permanently retire its GPT-4o model on February 13. This move follows a previous attempt to phase out the model in August 2025, which the company reversed after user protests. Users cite the model's emotional awareness and creative conversational style as superior to newer iterations like GPT-5.2.
The decision has triggered a debate regarding the ethical responsibilities of tech companies managing AI-human relationships. Some users view the AI as a personal companion, raising concerns about the psychological impact of discontinuing such services. OpenAI reports that only 0.1% of its user base still actively selects the GPT-4o model. The company maintains that retiring the model is necessary to focus resources on newer technology.