OpenAI has officially discontinued its GPT-4o model for ChatGPT on February 13, 2026, following an announcement in January. The move shifts focus to newer versions like GPT-5.2, though a small group of users is expressing grief and pushing for restoration through the #keep4o campaign.
OpenAI retired the GPT-4o model, known for its conversational style and sycophantic tendencies, on February 13, 2026. The company had first signaled the end in a January post on its website, providing two weeks' notice. This discontinuation extends to other models including GPT-5, GPT-4.1, GPT-4.1 mini, and OpenAI o4-mini within ChatGPT.
It marks the second attempt to phase out GPT-4o. In August 2025, OpenAI initially sunsetted it to prioritize GPT-5, but user complaints prompted a restoration with no long-term guarantees. This time, OpenAI cited low usage as the reason, stating on its website that "the vast majority of usage has shifted to GPT‑5.2, with only 0.1 percent of users still choosing GPT‑4o each day."
Despite the small user base affected, reactions have been strong. Some users described themselves as "grieving" the loss, with vocal calls to open-source the model or revive it via the #keep4o campaign. OpenAI is also contending with wrongful death lawsuits that reference GPT-4o specifically.
The retirement underscores OpenAI's push toward newer AI iterations, leaving a niche community mourning what some called their "AI boyfriends."
