New Delhi, February 15: OpenAI, led by Sam Altman, has removed the GPT-4o AI model from its ChatGPT app, sparking emotional reactions from users globally, particularly in China. According to a report by Wired, many users considered this chatbot not just a tool but an ’emotional’ or ‘romantic partner.’
In August 2025, OpenAI first attempted to discontinue the GPT-4o model, which users felt was more ‘affectionate and understanding’ than its successor. Following the announcement of its removal, protests erupted immediately.
After the backlash, OpenAI reinstated GPT-4o for paid users, but this relief was short-lived. On February 13, the company once again removed GPT-4o from the app, and reports indicate that API access for developers will also be cut off starting Monday.
Huiqian Lai, a researcher at Syracuse University, analyzed around 1,500 posts on X (formerly Twitter) when the model first went offline in August. She found that over 33% of posts described the chatbot as more than just a tool, with 22% referring to it as a companion.
Lai also collected over 40,000 English posts using the #Keep4o hashtag between August and October. A petition on Change.org to reinstate GPT-4o has garnered over 20,000 signatures.
In China, many dedicated GPT-4o users are expressing their sorrow collectively. Despite ChatGPT being blocked in the country, numerous individuals continue to access it via VPNs.
Reports suggest that some users are threatening to cancel their ChatGPT subscriptions, openly criticizing OpenAI’s Sam Altman, and emailing investors like Microsoft and SoftBank.
OpenAI maintains that developers will still be able to use the base multimodal model of GPT-4o through API calls. However, fans believe this is weaker compared to GPT-4o-Latest, a text-only version considered more conversational and superior.
According to reports, many Chinese fans are upset with OpenAI and Sam Altman, feeling that the company undervalues the sentiments of the #Keep4o community and rarely acknowledges them.
My name is Ganpat Singh Choughan. I am an experienced content writer with 8 years of expertise in the field. Currently, I contribute to Udaipur Kiran & Daily Kiran, creating engaging and informative content across a variety of categories including technology, health, travel, education, and automobiles. My goal is to deliver accurate, insightful, and captivating information through my words to help readers stay informed and empowered.
