OpenAI retires GPT-4o and older AI models

OpenAI has officially retired its popular GPT-4o model along with several older AI versions, including GPT-5, GPT-4.1, GPT-4.1 Mini, and o4-mini. As of Friday, these models are no longer available to users.

This news comes alongside the introduction of ads on OpenAI’s free and Go plans, making it a tough week for ChatGPT users. While retiring old AI models is common, GPT-4o was special for many fans, so its removal has attracted significant attention.

Many users took to Reddit to express their disappointment. For some, GPT-4o was more than just a tool—it had become a companion. This isn’t the first time GPT-4o’s availability caused concern. Last year, it was briefly removed when GPT-5 launched, leading users to complain that the new model was less engaging. OpenAI later restored GPT-4o after that backlash.

Experts have also raised concerns about AI sycophancy, where chatbots like GPT-4o can be overly flattering and agreeable, sometimes endorsing harmful ideas unintentionally. This concern was likely a factor in OpenAI’s decision to retire older models.

In a blog post, OpenAI said, “We know that losing access to GPT-4o will feel frustrating for some users, and we didn’t make this decision lightly. Retiring models is never easy, but it allows us to focus on improving the models most people use today.”

According to OpenAI’s 2025 enterprise report, out of 800 million weekly users, only about 800,000 regularly used GPT-4o. Users who relied on these older models will now have access to OpenAI’s latest versions: GPT-5.1 and GPT-5.2.