OpenAI announced Thursday it will retire several models, including GPT-4o, from its ChatGPT chatbot next month to concentrate development on models used by most customers.
The company launched GPT-4o in May 2024. This model gained popularity among a subset of paid users for its warm conversational style. OpenAI described it as beloved by some for these qualities. In August 2024, OpenAI briefly disabled access to GPT-4o shortly after introducing the newer GPT-5 model. The firm restored access promptly for paid subscribers amid user complaints.
During that period, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman addressed concerns on X. He pledged to provide “plenty of notice” if the company ever decided to retire GPT-4o. This commitment came directly in response to the temporary removal.
In a blog post published Thursday, OpenAI acknowledged user attachment to the model. The post stated, “We know that losing access to GPT‑4o will feel frustrating for some users, and we didn’t make this decision lightly.” The company continued, “Retiring models is never easy, but it allows us to focus on improving the models most people use today.” OpenAI cited recent advancements as preparation for this step.
OpenAI reported that only 0.1% of users select GPT-4o daily. In contrast, the vast majority rely on GPT-5.2. These usage patterns underpin the retirement decision. The firm highlighted specific enhancements in model personality, customization options, and creative ideation capabilities over recent months.
Besides GPT-4o, the retirements encompass GPT-4.1, GPT-4.1 mini, and OpenAI o4-mini from ChatGPT. OpenAI had already disclosed plans to remove GPT-5 Instant and GPT-5 Thinking from the chatbot. These changes apply solely to ChatGPT.
OpenAI confirmed no modifications to its application programming interface. Developers accessing models via API face no disruptions from these actions.
On September 23, 2025, Sam Altman spoke during a media tour of the Stargate data center in Abilene, Texas. This facility represents a collaboration among OpenAI, Oracle, and SoftBank. The project received promotional support from President Donald Trump. The partners aim to construct data centers and related infrastructure for artificial intelligence across the United States.
