OpenAI’s unusually detailed communication around GPT-4o has a specific reason. The model has had a turbulent history. In August 2025, OpenAI had already shut it down, only to reinstate it for paying subscribers after significant user backlash. Some users had developed an emotional attachment to GPT-4o, which was known for its overly agreeable and personable communication style. OpenAI directly addressed this sentiment at the end of its announcement:

“We know that losing access to GPT-4o will be frustrating for some users, and we did not make this decision lightly. Retiring models is never easy, but it allows us to improve the models that most people rely on today.”
— OpenAI

The company also pointed to newer successors, GPT-5.1 and GPT-5.2, noting that feedback from GPT-4o users has been incorporated into these models. Users can now customize ChatGPT’s tone and style, including settings for warmth and enthusiasm. This has not satisfied supporters of GPT-4o, however: more than 20,000 people reportedly signed petitions opposing the shutdown