OpenAI Announces Retirement of GPT-4o and Other Models Ahead of New GPT-5 Versions

OpenAI’s Model Retirement Announcement

OpenAI announced that it will retire a suite of its AI models, specifically GPT-4o, GPT-4.1, GPT-4.1 mini, o4-mini, and even GPT-5. The company set the final day for accessing these models as Friday, Feb. 13. This decision marks a significant shift as the models have been widely used across various applications.

User Reaction and Community Sentiment

The news generated a wave of frustration among users who had grown attached to GPT-4o. Many described the model as a favorite, and some expressed vexation and even livid disappointment that the model would disappear overnight with limited recourse. The abrupt removal of GPT-4o had previously caused backlash when it was taken offline after the launch of GPT-5, prompting OpenAI to restore it shortly thereafter.

OpenAI’s Rationale

In a detailed blog post, OpenAI acknowledged the emotional impact of the retirement, stating, “We know that losing access to GPT‑4o will feel frustrating for some users, and we didn’t make this decision lightly.” The company argued that retiring older models allows it to concentrate resources on improving the models that the majority of users rely on today.

Usage Statistics and Market Considerations

OpenAI highlighted that only about 0.1% of its user base regularly utilizes GPT-4o, translating to roughly 800,000 users based on its reported 800 million weekly active users. By focusing on the most widely adopted models, OpenAI aims to streamline development and deliver enhancements that benefit the broader community.

Future Outlook

OpenAI is positioning the upcoming GPT-5 iterations—referred to as GPT-5.1 and GPT-5.2—as the next generation of AI capabilities. The company is betting that the passage of time will mitigate anger among GPT-4o loyalists and that the new models will attract sufficient support to become the primary tools for its users.