OpenAI to Retire GPT-4o and Legacy Models on February 13 — Full Transition to GPT-5 Era
OpenAI announced on January 29 that it will retire GPT-4o, GPT-4.1, GPT-4.1 mini, and o4-mini from ChatGPT on February 13. Combined with the previously announced retirement of GPT-5 (Instant and Thinking), this marks ChatGPT’s complete transition to the GPT-5 generation.
GPT-4o’s Unique History
Since its May 2024 launch, GPT-4o earned a devoted following for its warm conversational style. When OpenAI briefly removed it during the GPT-5 rollout in August 2025, user backlash was swift and fierce, prompting the company to quickly restore access.
Now, OpenAI says only 0.1% of users still choose GPT-4o daily, with the vast majority having migrated to GPT-5.2.
GPT-5.2 Personality Customization
OpenAI has incorporated user feedback into GPT-5.2, offering customizable base styles like “Friendly” and adjustable settings for warmth and enthusiasm. The company is also addressing unnecessary refusals and overly cautious responses.
AI Companion Community Reacts
The February 13 retirement date — the day before Valentine’s Day — has triggered emotional responses from communities built around AI relationships. Reddit’s AI companion subreddits have been flooded with expressions of grief and frustration.
No API Changes
The retirement applies only to ChatGPT’s interface. There are no changes to the API at this time, allowing developers to continue using GPT-4o through existing integrations.