OpenAI Confirms GPT-4o Exit Date as GPT-5.2 Advances
OpenAI has officially announced that GPT-4o, GPT-4.1, and o4-mini will be retired from ChatGPT on February 13, 2026, as the company consolidates its focus on the GPT-5.2 ecosystem.
After a year of serving as the bridge between the GPT-4 and GPT-5 generations, GPT-4o, a model that became a fan favorite for its distinctive conversational warmth, is being phased out.
This decision comes alongside the retirement of earlier GPT-5 iterations (Instant and Thinking), as OpenAI moves to streamline its offerings around its most capable and customizable version yet: GPT-5.2.
The Evolution of “Conversational Warmth”
According to an official OpenAI blog post published Thursday (January 29, 2026), the decision to keep GPT-4o active through late 2025 was a direct response to user feedback.
When the company first attempted to move users toward GPT-5 in August, a dedicated subset of Plus and Pro users pushed back, citing a preference for GPT-4o’s unique “warmth” and brainstorming.
In a report by CNBC, CEO Sam Altman had promised users plenty of warning before retiring older models. By choosing mid-February for GPT‑4o’s phase-out, OpenAI is keeping that promise while signaling that GPT‑5.2 has effectively improved its conversational abilities.
Importantly, OpenAI confirmed that API access remains unchanged, meaning developers using these models programmatically will not lose functionality immediately. This reduces disruption for businesses and integrations dependent on older back‑end models.
Streamlining the Model Picker
The phase-out of GPT‑4.1, GPT‑4.1 Mini, and the reasoning-focused o4‑mini is part of a wider initiative to ease “model picker fatigue.” According to OpenAI’s official blog, internal usage data indicates that the overwhelming majority of users have already upgraded to the GPT‑5 series.
For the remaining 0.1% still relying on GPT‑4o, the company acknowledges the transition can be inconvenient, but emphasizes that continuing to support older models limits their ability to enhance the features most widely used today.
Adult-Centric Features and Safety
Beyond retiring older models, OpenAI is reinforcing its “treating adults like adults” approach. Recent updates target overly cautious or “preachy” responses that drew complaints in the mid-GPT‑4 era.
To support this while maintaining safety, the company has implemented age-prediction technology that guides stricter moderation for users under 18, while adults gain a less filtered, high-level creative experience.
What’s Next for Users
OpenAI says it will continue refining ChatGPT’s personality and creative capabilities. Future updates promise continued improvements to how the system responds to user intent, striking a balance between versatility and control, while respecting safety standards.
For users of ChatGPT Plus and Pro plans who still rely on GPT‑4o for particular workflows, the announcement gives a clear timetable to transition to the newer GPT‑5 family before the retirement date.
Source: OpenAI official blog
