OpenAI retires GPT-4o following broader adoption of GPT-5 models

OpenAI will retire the GPT-4o model and all of its variants in ChatGPT starting February 13.

In an official statement, the company said GPT-4o “deserves special context.” Access to the model had already been removed in 2025 following the launch of GPT-5, but was later restored after OpenAI said it was “hearing clear feedback from a subset of Plus and Pro users.”

According to OpenAI, GPT-4o’s defining feature was its “conversational style and warmth.” These qualities were highly valued by many users and played a significant role in shaping the personality of GPT-5.

“hat feedback directly shaped GPT‑5.1 and GPT‑5.2, with improvements to personality, stronger support for creative ideation, and more ways to customize how ChatGPT responds⁠⁠,” the company said.

As a result of that feedback, users of GPT-5 can now select a more “friendly” tone and adjust the chatbot’s level of warmth and enthusiasm.

“We’re announcing the upcoming retirement of GPT-4o today because these improvements are now in place, and because the vast majority of usage has shifted to GPT-5.2, with only 0.1% of users still choosing GPT-4o each day,” OpenAI said.

The company also noted that it is approaching the launch of a version of ChatGPT designed for users aged 18 and over, aimed at “expanding user choice and freedom within appropriate safeguards.”