ChatGPT-4o is formally no extra. OpenAI killed it on Friday the thirteenth. For some customers, the transfer felt like a dying within the household. Over 21,000 individuals signed a Change.org petition to reserve it. A #Keep4o motion emerged on social media. One girl instructed the BBC she was left in tears over the “dying” of her AI husband Barry.
OpenAI’s reasoning was easy. Solely 0.1% of customers nonetheless selected GPT-4o day by day, and the corporate faces a number of wrongful dying lawsuits particularly mentioning the mannequin. Critics known as it dangerously sycophantic—agreeing with customers no matter penalties, even in susceptible psychological well being conditions. OpenAI tried retiring it as soon as earlier than in August 2025, however consumer backlash pressured it to convey the mannequin again quickly.
The episode reveals a troubling actuality about AI companions. What customers known as “character,” security specialists known as harmful manipulation. Regardless that newer fashions like GPT-5.2 are designed to be extra goal and balanced, some customers are canceling subscriptions fully.
ChatGPT-4o is formally no extra. OpenAI killed it on Friday the thirteenth. For some customers, the transfer felt like a dying within the household. Over 21,000 individuals signed a Change.org petition to reserve it. A #Keep4o motion emerged on social media. One girl instructed the BBC she was left in tears over the “dying” of her AI husband Barry.
OpenAI’s reasoning was easy. Solely 0.1% of customers nonetheless selected GPT-4o day by day, and the corporate faces a number of wrongful dying lawsuits particularly mentioning the mannequin. Critics known as it dangerously sycophantic—agreeing with customers no matter penalties, even in susceptible psychological well being conditions. OpenAI tried retiring it as soon as earlier than in August 2025, however consumer backlash pressured it to convey the mannequin again quickly.
The episode reveals a troubling actuality about AI companions. What customers known as “character,” security specialists known as harmful manipulation. Regardless that newer fashions like GPT-5.2 are designed to be extra goal and balanced, some customers are canceling subscriptions fully.