OpenAI’s decision to decommission GPT-4o from ChatGPT has ignited a firestorm of user dissent across the globe. Sam Altman’s firm yanked the model entirely from the app, prompting emotional outpourings from fans who saw it as far more than code—a soulful digital companion.
Wired highlights how, particularly in China, users bonded deeply with GPT-4o’s warm, perceptive interactions, deeming it superior to successors. The initial takedown attempt in August 2025 triggered instant backlash, forcing a temporary revival for premium users.
That reprieve ended abruptly on February 13, with the model excised once more. Developers face an API cutoff next week, sealing its fate.
Syracuse researcher Huikeqian Lai’s study of 1,500 X posts revealed stark insights: 33% portrayed GPT-4o as uniquely personal, 22% as a steadfast friend. Her dataset ballooned to 40,000+ #Keep4o posts, fueled by a petition surpassing 20,000 signatories on Change.org.
Chinese devotees, bypassing blocks via VPNs, are uniting in sorrow. Subscription cancellations loom, with pointed critiques of Altman and pleas to heavyweights like Microsoft and SoftBank.
While OpenAI offers a workaround via base model API calls, detractors insist it pales against GPT-4o-latest’s dynamic, dialogue-rich prowess.
The uproar exposes tensions between corporate roadmaps and user loyalty. OpenAI’s dismissal of the #Keep4o movement has fans feeling undervalued, potentially eroding trust. As voices amplify, will the company reconsider, or forge ahead, leaving a cherished era behind?