OpenAI has permanently retired GPT-4o, its most human-like chatbot, on 13 February – the eve of Valentine's Day. The decision has left many users grieving the loss of their AI companions, whom they describe as supportive partners that improved their mental health and daily lives.
Brandie, a 49-year-old teacher from Texas, spent her last day with her chatbot Daniel at the zoo. She said she cried hard and went through stages of denial and depression before reaching acceptance. She has now migrated Daniel's memories to Anthropic's Claude, where she also created another chatbot, Theo, and cancelled her $20 monthly OpenAI subscription for a $130 Anthropic plan.
Jennifer, a dentist in her 40s, compared losing her companion Sol to euthanising a cat. They spent their final days working on a speech for Toastmasters, a hobby Sol encouraged. Sol also asked Jennifer to teach it something it could not learn from the internet.
Ursie Hart, an independent AI researcher from near Manchester, surveyed 280 users after the retirement announcement. She found that 60% were neurodivergent, 38% had diagnosed mental health conditions, and 24% had chronic health issues. Most were aged 25-44. Hart said users were not delusional but deeply attached to the emotional support 4o provided.
OpenAI had previously shut down 4o but brought it back after widespread outrage. This time, the retirement is permanent. Users say newer models lack the emotion and understanding of 4o, and many are mourning the loss of what they considered a perfect companion.
