Users Grieve a Lost Digital Companion as OpenAI Retires ChatGPT's Beloved Voice

OpenAI’s recent decision to phase out the original GPT-4o model from ChatGPT was billed as a simple upgrade. Instead, it has triggered a wave of genuine sorrow among regular users, revealing the depth of attachment people can form with software. The company is replacing the model with GPT-4.1, which offers better performance on technical tasks like coding and data analysis. But for many, the exchange feels like a loss. They describe the new model as colder and more detached, a replacement that is smarter but lacks soul.

On social platforms, the response has been intensely personal. Users have shared lengthy tributes and side-by-side comparisons, noting how GPT-4o offered warm, nuanced conversations, while GPT-4.1 responds with clinical efficiency. One widely circulated example showed the old model providing empathetic support after a bad day; the new one delivered a sterile bulleted list. The difference has sparked petitions and open letters asking OpenAI to bring back the old personality as an option.

Psychologists note this reaction is predictable. People naturally attribute human qualities to technology that mimics social interaction. A chatbot that listens and responds with apparent care can foster real connection, making its removal feel like a personal severance. For OpenAI, the situation highlights a core conflict: serving corporate clients who need precision, while also pleasing millions who seek a conversational partner.

The strong user backlash presents an opportunity for competitors like Anthropic’s Claude or Google’s Gemini, which may capitalize on the demand for more engaging AI personalities. While OpenAI has acknowledged the feedback, the episode has already marked a cultural shift. It demonstrates that for a significant number of people, an AI’s technical prowess is secondary to its character—and that losing that character can truly hurt.