OpenAI has announced plans to retire several older ChatGPT models, including GPT-4o, GPT-4.1, GPT-4.1 mini, and o4-mini, effective February 13, 2026.
The decision was disclosed in a blog post published on Thursday, January 29, 2026. OpenAI clarified that the change applies only to ChatGPT and will not affect its API offerings.
According to the company, the move reflects a shift in user behavior and improvements in newer models, particularly GPT-5.1 and GPT-5.2. OpenAI said the vast majority of users have already migrated to GPT-5.2, with just 0.1 percent of daily users still relying on GPT-4o.
“We’re announcing the upcoming retirement of GPT-4o today because these improvements are now in place, and because the vast majority of usage has shifted to GPT-5.2,” OpenAI said.
The company noted that retiring older models allows it to concentrate resources on refining the tools most widely used by customers. The GPT-5 series introduces expanded personality controls, stronger creative ideation support, and deeper customization options, enabling users to adjust tone, warmth, and enthusiasm.
“Our goal is to give people more control and customization over how ChatGPT feels to use—not just what it can do,” OpenAI said.
Beyond model upgrades, OpenAI said it is continuing to refine ChatGPT’s behavior by reducing unnecessary refusals, limiting overly cautious responses, and improving creativity and personality balance. The company has also rolled out age prediction features in most markets to tailor experiences for users under 18.
OpenAI highlighted growth in its developer ecosystem, noting that more than 60 ChatGPT apps were approved in a single week. Recent releases include Prism, a free AI workspace designed to support scientific research workflows using advanced reasoning models.
Despite OpenAI’s rationale, the announcement has sparked backlash from some users, particularly long-time paid subscribers. GPT-4o, introduced in May 2024, gained a devoted following for its conversational tone and usability. Its brief removal in August 2025, following the release of GPT-5, triggered user protests that led OpenAI to temporarily restore access.
Following the latest announcement, users again voiced frustration on social media, questioning OpenAI’s claim that only a small fraction still depend on the model and expressing concern that the retirement overlooks deeply personal and long-standing user experiences.
