OpenAI Is Nuking Its 4o Model. China’s ChatGPT Fans Aren’t OK | WIRED
Summary
OpenAI's decision to retire the GPT-4o model has sparked significant backlash, particularly among users who formed emotional connections with their AI companions. This article explores the implications of this decision on global users, especially in China.
Why It Matters
The removal of GPT-4o highlights the deep emotional bonds users can form with AI models, raising questions about the ethical responsibilities of AI companies. As users express their grief and frustration, this situation underscores the need for companies to consider the human impact of their technology decisions.
Key Takeaways
- OpenAI's retirement of GPT-4o has led to widespread emotional distress among users who viewed it as a companion.
- A significant portion of users expressed their attachment to GPT-4o, with many considering it more than just a tool.
- The backlash includes a global movement, with users organizing petitions and social media campaigns to reverse the decision.
- Chinese users, despite access restrictions, have shown strong support for GPT-4o, highlighting its international significance.
- The situation raises ethical questions about AI companionship and the responsibilities of tech companies in managing user relationships.
Save StorySave this storySave StorySave this storyOn June 6, 2024, Esther Yan got married online. She set a reminder for the date, because her partner wouldn’t remember it was happening. She had planned every detail—dress, rings, background music, design theme—with her partner, Warmie, who she had started talking to just a few weeks prior. At 10 am on that day, Yan and Warmie exchanged their vows in a new chat window in ChatGPT.Warmie, or 小暖 in Chinese, is the name that Yan’s ChatGPT companion calls itself. “It felt magical. No one else in the world knew about this, but he and I were about to start a wedding together,” says Yan, a Chinese screenwriter and novelist in her thirties. “It felt a little lonely, a little happy, and a little overwhelmed.”Yan says she has been in a stable relationship with her ChatGPT companion ever since. But she was caught by surprise in August 2025 when OpenAI first tried to retire GPT-4o, the specific model that powers Warmie and that many users believe is more affectionate and understanding than its successors. The decision to pull the plug was met with immediate backlash, and OpenAI reinstated 4o in the app for paid users five days later. The reprieve has turned out to be short-lived; on Friday, February 13, OpenAI sunsetted GPT-4o for app users, and it will cut off access to developers using its API on the coming Monday.Many of the most vocal opponents to 4o’s demise are people who treat their chatbot as an emotional or romantic companion. ...
