Open AI brings GPT-4o back as a default for all paying Chat GPT users, Altman promises ‘plenty of notice’ if it leaves again

OpenAI has reinstated GPT-4o as the default option for all paying subscribers of ChatGPT, marking a significant shift following the recent launch of GPT-5. Users who subscribe to tiers such as ChatGPT Plus, Pro, Team, Enterprise, or Edu will no longer need to enable an option to access this model. Instead, they will have the convenience of a new setting that allows access to earlier versions, including GPT-4.1, o3, and o4-mini, which are designed for more reasoning-focused tasks. Sam Altman, CEO and co-founder of OpenAI, announced this development via X, assuring users that if GPT-4o were to be removed again, ample notice would be provided. In addition to this change, the platform has introduced new control options for GPT-5, allowing users to select between 'Auto', 'Fast', and 'Thinking' modes. While most may prefer the 'Auto' setting, the additional options offer more tailored experiences for those with specific needs. The rollout of GPT-5 had a rocky start when it was introduced on August 7, with mixed reviews due to technical issues and user frustrations stemming from the removal of older models. The new 'Thinking' mode for GPT-5, which boasts a 196,000-token context window, now has a limit of 3,000 messages per week for paying users. After reaching this limit, users can switch to the lighter 'GPT-5 Thinking mini' mode. Altman indicated that these limits may evolve based on user activity. Moreover, GPT-4.5 will remain restricted to Pro users because of its high GPU cost. Altman also teased plans for future modifications, including a more personable tone for GPT-5 aimed at being 'warmer' than its predecessor, GPT-4o, while avoiding polarizing elements. OpenAI is considering personalization features to cater to individual user preferences, addressing the strong emotional connections users have developed with specific models. These updates aim to ease frustrations while acknowledging the strong ties users have formed with earlier iterations of the technology.