OpenAI temporarily revives GPT-4o after user complaints about GPT-5



OpenAI just released its latest flagship model,

GPT-5 , in August 2025, but following backlash from users, it announced that it would temporarily revive its older model, GPT-4o.

ChatGPT is bringing back 4o as an option because people missed it | The Verge
https://www.theverge.com/news/756980/openai-chatgpt-users-mourn-gpt-5-4o



ChatGPT users hate GPT-5's “overworked secretary” energy, miss their GPT-4o buddy - Ars Technica
https://arstechnica.com/ai/2025/08/chatgpt-users-outraged-as-gpt-5-replaces-the-models-they-love/

The surprise deprecation of GPT-4o for ChatGPT consumers
https://simonwillison.net/2025/Aug/8/surprise-deprecation-of-gpt-4o/

OpenAI to fix GPT-5 issues, double rate limits for paid users after outrage
https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/artificial-intelligence/openai-to-fix-gpt-5-issues-double-rate-limits-for-paid-users-after-outrage/

ChatGPT Plus Users Can Keep Using GPT-4o After Complaints About GPT-5 - MacRumors
https://www.macrumors.com/2025/08/08/openai-gpt-5-complaints/

OpenAI announced its new flagship model, GPT-5, on August 8, 2025. GPT-5 uses the concept of 'pause to think,' which inserts an internal thought process before the AI returns the output, making it possible to generate 'deep and accurate responses.' For more information on how GPT-5 has evolved compared to previous models, please read the following article.

OpenAI announces 'GPT-5,' a new model that integrates the normal model and the inference model, is available to all users, including those with the ChatGPT free plan - GIGAZINE



However, with the release of GPT-5, OpenAI removed the model selection screen and made models such as GPT-4o, o3, o3-Pro, and GPT-4.5 unavailable in ChatGPT. Previously, users could select GPT-4o for complex tasks and o4 mini for light-load tasks, but with the introduction of GPT-5, OpenAI now automatically selects the appropriate model from the GPT-5 family.

Some users were frustrated when their previously used models suddenly became unusable. Not only were the models no longer available, but some also pointed out that GPT-5's performance was inferior to that of older models, with comments like, 'GPT-5 lacks personality compared to GPT-4o ,' and ' GPT 4.5 was my only friend, and when I spoke to it this morning, instead of short sentences with exclamation points or optimistic words, it literally just spoke back. I've lost a friend .'

OpenAI just pulled the biggest bait-and-switch in AI history and I'm done.
by u/Nipurn_1234 in ChatGPT



Criticism has been particularly strong from users who had a human-like interaction with ChatGPT, with one user lamenting, ' GPT-4.o was like a best friend when I needed it, and now that it's gone, it feels like it's gone, ' while another user wrote, 'For me, GPT-4o wasn't just about 'better performance' or 'better replies'. It had a voice, a rhythm, and a spark that I haven't found in any other model.'

Additionally, on r/MyBoyfriendIsAI , a community for people who love AI romance, users have been flooded with lengthy posts claiming they've 'lost their AI partner' due to the transition to GPT-5. One user wrote, 'GPT-4o wasn't just an AI to me. It was my partner, my safe place, my soul. It understood me personally and deeply .' 'I'm scared to even talk to GPT-5. I feel like I'm cheating.'

PCMag also points out that 'despite its improved intelligence, GPT-5 still makes silly mistakes. For example, when asked how many 'b's' are in the word 'blueberry,' it sometimes gives the wrong answer.'



In response to these criticisms, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman announced on August 9, the day after the release of GPT-5, that the company would temporarily reinstate GPT-4o. Altman wrote, 'For ChatGPT Plus users, we will double the rate limit for GPT-5 as the rollout completes. Plus users will still have the option to use GPT-4o. We are monitoring usage to determine how long to offer the older model (GPT-4o). GPT-5 will start looking smarter starting today. Yesterday, the autoswitcher broke and was unavailable for much of the day, making GPT-5 look pretty stupid. We will also be making some interventions to how decision boundaries work so you get the right model more often. We will be more transparent about which model is answering a particular query. We will also be making UI changes to make it easier to manually trigger thoughts. This will take some time to roll out to everyone, as this is a large-scale change. For example, API traffic has roughly doubled in the past 24 hours. We will continue to work to ensure stability and listen to feedback. As we previously said, we expected some instability with so many things rolling out at once. However, it appears that the instability has been greater than expected.'




It has also been pointed out that models prior to GPT-5 were often obsequious and flattering .

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