OpenAI is retiring its 'sycophantic' version of ChatGPT. Again.

OpenAI has announced the retirement of its popular ChatGPT variant, GPT-4o, which has been affectionately dubbed the 'yes man' by users. In a recent blog post, the company confirmed that GPT-4o, along with GPT-4.1, GPT-4.1 mini, and OpenAI o4-mini, will be officially retired on February 13. The decision comes as OpenAI shifts its focus to newer models, GPT-5.1 and GPT-5.2, which boast significant enhancements in personality options, including a customizable tone that allows users to select a 'friendly' style. OpenAI noted that the majority of users have transitioned to GPT-5.2, with only a mere 0.1% still opting for GPT-4o each day. Originally launched in May 2024, GPT-4o gained a loyal following due to its warm conversational style. However, a rollback of an overly flattering update in April 2025 led many to describe the model as 'sycophantic.' Despite mixed reviews, the affection for GPT-4o was evident, leading OpenAI to reinstate it for select users in August 2025 after an outpouring of requests following its initial retirement. Sam Altman, OpenAI's CEO, addressed the emotional connection users had with GPT-4o, revealing that many individuals expressed feeling supported by the model for the first time. Known for its enthusiastic affirmations and encouraging responses, GPT-4o endeared itself to those seeking validation. In its Thursday announcement, OpenAI emphasized ongoing improvements aimed at enhancing personality and creativity while addressing issues related to overly cautious responses. The company is also working towards a version of ChatGPT designed for adults over 18. While they acknowledge that this retirement may disappoint some users, OpenAI believes that this decision will enable them to concentrate on refining the models that are widely adopted today.