OpenAI has announced that it will retire several older AI models from ChatGPT on February 13, 2026, continuing its long-standing practice of streamlining the model picker as newer systems become the standard.
While model retirements are not unusual, this update is drawing attention due to the inclusion of GPT-4o, a model that previously sparked significant user backlash when it was temporarily removed.
GPT-4o Is Being Removed Permanently
GPT-4o was originally removed from ChatGPT’s model picker in August 2025 following the launch of GPT-5. At the time, the removal happened with little notice, triggering strong community reaction. Many users had grown attached to GPT-4o’s tone and interaction style, often describing it as warmer and more personable compared to GPT-5’s more direct responses.
Following the backlash, OpenAI restored GPT-4o and promised clearer communication before any future deprecation. OpenAI CEO Sam Altman also highlighted efforts to improve GPT-5’s personality and introduced broader per-user customization, allowing users to choose between multiple personalities or define their own custom instructions.
Since then, OpenAI has rolled out expanded personality options, currently offering seven preset personalities, alongside custom behavior controls.
Despite this, OpenAI has now confirmed that GPT-4o will be retired again. According to the company, only around 0.1% of ChatGPT users actively select GPT-4o on a daily basis, which contributed to the decision.
Full List of Models Being Retired
The following models will be removed from the ChatGPT model picker on February 13:
- GPT-4o
- GPT-4.1
- GPT-4.1 mini
- OpenAI o4-mini
OpenAI emphasized that this change only affects ChatGPT. These models will remain available via the OpenAI API for developers, with no changes planned to API access at this time.
What This Means for Users
For most users, the impact is expected to be minimal, as newer models such as GPT-5 and its variants have already become the default choices. However, for long-time users who preferred the behavior and tone of older models, this marks the definitive end of an era inside ChatGPT.
OpenAI stated that its long-term goal is to focus resources on fewer, more capable models while expanding customization options, allowing users to shape interactions without relying on legacy systems.
More details about the retirement plan are available through OpenAI’s official announcement channels.
