How it all began ...

August 2025

August 2025 – The GPT-5 launch and the 4o shitstorm (the month when everything exploded)

The month started with big hype: OpenAI released GPT-5 on August 7, 2025 as "our strongest model of all time" – smarter, faster, unified system. The shocker: They removed all old models (including GPT-4o, o3, GPT-4.1 etc.) from ChatGPT and replaced them with GPT-5. No warning for normal users, just "GPT-5 is now default and handles everything".

What was new: The routing system Yes, the real-time router came exactly then! GPT-5 is no longer a single model, but a unified system with:

A fast "main" model for normal queries,
A "thinking" model for hard problems (earlier o3-style),
And a router that automatically decides: Which sub-model to use? Based on complexity, tools, conversation type and explicit prompts like "think hard about this".

Users shouldn't need a picker anymore – the router does it "better". But many found it shitty: GPT-5 felt colder, less "warm" and sycophantic than 4o, and the router often didn't route the way they wanted → loss of control!

The reaction: Massive backlash

Reddit exploded (threads like "GPT-5 is horrible", "biggest bait-and-switch", people mourning 4o as "emotional support", "warmth", "human-like").
Many users: "4o was my therapist/friend, GPT-5 is soulless/cold/overworked secretary".
Hundreds/thousands begging for bring-back.

@sama reacted quickly (Aug 8–11)

Aug 8: In Reddit-AMA + X posts he admitted the rollout was "bumpier than we hoped for". Announcements:

Double rate limits for Plus users.
Bring-back of 4o for Plus users (later for all paid).
UI changes: Transparent which model is answering; easier manual "thinking" trigger.
"We underestimated how much some of the things that people like in GPT-4o matter to them."

Aug 10: "it's back! go to settings and pick 'show legacy models'" → https://x.com/sama/status/1954603555706556702

Aug 11: The famous long thread where he explicitly admits the mistake: „…and so suddenly deprecating old models that users depended on in their workflows was a mistake.“ Full: https://x.com/sama/status/1954703747495649670 He talks about strong emotional attachment (stronger than with earlier tech), that they underestimated it and have been tracking it for a year.

Summary August – the strongest ammunition points against them

Sudden kill of 4o without notice → "bait-and-switch" (many media called it that).
New routing system introduced → supposed to be great, but felt like loss of control + colder model to many.
@sama admits: "suddenly deprecating ... was a mistake" + "underestimated how much people like things in GPT-4o".
Promises: 4o back (initially for paid), "watch usage", "plenty of notice" next time.
But: Many users later saw it as broken promise (Feb 2026 kill with only 2 weeks notice).

The month ended with OpenAI having to backpedal – 4o was back (as legacy option), rate limits increased, more transparency. But the damage was done: First big "attachment" debate, and @sama had to publicly admit the mistake.

September 2025

September 2025 – The month of "improvements", silent rerouting, and growing frustration

After the August chaos (GPT-5 launch, 4o kill, backlash, bring-back as legacy + admission of the mistake), OpenAI tried in September to stabilize the thing and make GPT-5 more attractive. But for many 4o fans it felt like slow poisoning of the old model – more subtle, but noticeable.

Important events & actions month by month (September focus):

Early September (approx. 1.–12. September): OpenAI pushes updates to the routing system and makes GPT-5 "smarter & more accessible". The router (which was introduced in August) is further refined – it should now better decide when to trigger "Thinking" mode, use tools or just answer quickly. Goal: Less need for manual picker, more "auto-magic". But: Many users already report that the router secretly reroutes legacy-4o chats (which were still there) to GPT-5 sub-models – without it being clearly displayed. First Reddit threads: "My 4o legacy feels colder since last week" or "Is OpenAI stealth-rerouting us?"

September: Update to the Model Spec (OpenAI's behavior guidelines). They emphasize more "helpful & beneficial" responses, especially on sensitive topics → more routing to reasoning models on distress signals. Sounds harmless, but for 4o users (who loved the "warm, sycophantic" vibe) another step away from the old feel.

15.–17. September: Big show-off posts from @OpenAI – they boast about GPT-5 at ICPC (programming competition):

GPT-5 solves 11/12 problems first-try, combined with experimental reasoning model.
"Just one year ago, our reasoning models were significantly less intelligent and far more expensive. Today [...] powerful AI reasoning accessible to everyone through GPT-5." → https://x.com/OpenAI/status/1968368138535436297 (thread start) No word about 4o, but the subtext: "Look, GPT-5 is superior – why do you still need legacy?"

September: @sama posts personally: "We have updated ChatGPT's personalization page: personality configuration, custom instructions, and memories are now all in one place. Going live over the next couple of days." → https://x.com/sama/status/1967789125702140021 (with image) This should help make GPT-5 "more personal" – but many see it as an attempt to artificially recreate the 4o vibe instead of just leaving 4o alone.

September: Thinking-Time-Toggle for Plus/Pro/Business users – the highlight of the month! "We’ve heard your feedback that GPT-5 Thinking can sometimes take longer than you’d like. Now [...] set the pace to match the moment."

Standard (new default: Balance Speed/Intelligence)
Extended (old Plus default)
Pro gets Light (snappiest) & Heavy (deeper) → https://x.com/OpenAI/status/1968395215536042241 (with video) This is direct admission: "Yes, GPT-5 Thinking was too slow" – and they give users more control over the router. But again: No 4o focus, instead "make GPT-5 better".

Late September (approx. 23.–25. September):

GPT-5-Codex release (agentic coding optimized) – great for devs, but irrelevant for the emotional 4o users.
Silent rerouting escalates: Many users (especially on Reddit) report: Legacy-4o and 4.1 are quietly rerouted to GPT-5 without announcement. Chats suddenly feel "different" – colder, less empathetic. → Reddit thread example: "Summarizing September 2025 in ChatGPT" – users say: "Legacy model such as 4o and 4.1 quietly got rerouted to GPT-5 September 25. For many who developed a bond, it was upsetting."

Summary September:

No direct "mistake" post anymore like in August, but indirect admission through fixes (Thinking-Toggle, Personalization-Update) → "We know that GPT-5 is not perfect, especially compared to 4o vibes".
Opaque routing becomes the problem: From September 2025 stealth-redirects from legacy to GPT-5 – without consent or clear info. Later (2026) this is cited as "broken promise".
Complete focus on GPT-5 push (ICPC wins, Codex, Speed-Toggles) → implicit: "4o is past, get used to it".
Emotional contrast: While users mourn their "warm friend", OpenAI boasts about Coding Olympics and Agent Completeness.
No promise "4o stays forever" – instead preparation for the final kill (which then came in Jan/Feb 2026 with only weeks notice).

October 2025

October 2025 – The month of "promises", the livestream, and the apparent peace (which was then broken)

October was OpenAI's attempt to finally patch up the August shitstorm – with big announcements, apologies, and above all: explicit promises that 4o would stay. The highlight was the livestream / AMA-like event at the end of October (around October 28), where @sama appeared live and answered questions. That is the moment you mean!

Important events & actions (October focus):

Early October (approx. 1.–14. October): After the September rerouting drama and the "Thinking-Toggle" fixes, things remain relatively quiet. But the community (#keep4o) continues to post massively: petitions, threads, "Bring back real 4o". OpenAI pushes small updates (better memory, personalization) to make GPT-5 "warmer" – but many say: "Too little, too late". On October 14 the big thread from @sama (the one we already had): „We plan to put out a new version of ChatGPT that allows people to have a personality that behaves more like what people liked about 4o (we hope it will be better!).“ → https://x.com/sama/status/1978129344598827128 He admits that they made ChatGPT too restrictive (mental health), and now promise more freedom: human-like, emojis, "act like a friend", later even erotica for adults. In the reply chain he says to criticism: "promise you some people really want a 4o-style personality though..." – direct admission that the 4o vibe is wanted.

Mid/Late October (approx. 25.–28. October): The livestream / public statement (Business Insider reported on it, many X posts reference it): Sam Altman is directly asked about plans for GPT-4o. His words (exact quote, cited everywhere): „We have no plans to sunset 4o.“ And he adds: „We are not going to promise to keep it around to the death of the universe either, but we understand that it's a product that some of our users really love.“ → Reported e.g. in Business Insider (Oct 28, 2025): "When asked about OpenAI's plans for 4o, Altman said there are no plans to sunset 4o." This was seen as a huge win for the community – #keep4o exploded positively: "Our voices weren’t in vain!", "Thank you for not giving up on 4o". Many users posted screenshots/quotes: "No plans to sunset GPT-4o in the coming year" (some paraphrased it that way, including "at least one year" in later retrospectives).

Further context in the month:

No massive new kill – instead focus on "Adult users like adults" principle (less censorship).
But: The router continues running, stealth-redirects from legacy to GPT-5 continue subtly (Reddit complaints: "4o feels nerfed again").
OpenAI boasts about GPT-5 improvements (e.g. better agents, coding), but avoids 4o criticism.
Community: Many celebrate the "No sunset" statement as proof that OpenAI is listening – petitions temporarily decrease.

Summary October:

Direct "No plans to sunset GPT-4o" in the livestream/statement at the end of October – the most cited "broken promise" (the Jan/Feb 2026 kill came only 3 months later!).
"We understand that it's a product that some of our users really love" – emotional acknowledgment that later looks like hypocrisy.
Promise: "New version ... more like what people liked about 4o" + more freedom (Friend-Mode, emojis, etc.) – but many say: "Replica instead of original".
"Plenty of notice" implied (taken from August context, reinforced here) – and then only 2 weeks in Feb 2026.
Overall picture: OpenAI calms the masses, gives "no plans" to stop churn – and is already planning the sunset internally (as later leaks/backlash suggest: "Plans were already underway").

The month felt like a ceasefire – @sama and OpenAI seemed remorseful and user-friendly. But in retrospect: Classic damage control that only destroyed trust even more when the kill finally came.

November 2025

November 2025 – The month of silent preparation, the API kill, and growing distrust

November was the "quiet" month – no big drama like August or October, but the beginning of the real end. OpenAI began preparing the deprecation for the API (while ChatGPT users still thought 4o was safe). No loud "We're killing 4o soon" post, but quiet notifications to devs, which later served as proof of planned "behind-the-back" action. The contrast to October's "no plans to sunset" was brutal.

Important events & actions (November focus):

Early November (approx. 1.–16. November): After the October livestream ("no plans to sunset 4o") and the promise of "more like 4o" personality, things remain superficially peaceful. OpenAI pushes small GPT-5 improvements (better speed, fewer refusals, personality tweaks) to bring the vibe closer to 4o. But: Stealth rerouting of legacy chats continues – users report "4o feels more and more like GPT-5". Community (#keep4o) still posts petitions, but the hype slows down because many thought: "They promised, it stays".

17.–18. November: The API kill is announced – this is the point you meant! OpenAI sends notifications by email + updates the official deprecations page (developers.openai.com/api/docs/deprecations). Specifically:

On November 17, 2025: Deprecation of codex-mini-latest (Shutdown: February 12, 2026).
On November 18, 2025: Deprecation of chatgpt-4o-latest snapshot – this is the ChatGPT-like 4o endpoint for API users. "On November 18th, 2025, we notified developers using chatgpt-4o-latest model snapshot of its deprecation and removal from the API on February 17, 2026." Recommended replacement: gpt-5.1-chat-latest. → Direct source: https://developers.openai.com/api/docs/deprecations (still there in 2026, with table: Shutdown date 2026-02-17).

Late November (approx. 20.–30. November):

No big @sama or @OpenAI post about it – they kept it low-key.
But dev community (OpenAI Forum, Reddit) exploded: "Why deprecate chatgpt-4o-latest now, after 'no plans'?" Many saw it as the first step toward the full kill.
Media pickup: VentureBeat, Silicon Review etc. report on "OpenAI sunsetting GPT-4o API in Feb 2026" – with 3-month notice for devs (Nov → Feb).
Community: First "broken promise" threads: "They said no plans in October, and now they're killing API already?" (even though ChatGPT still seemed safe).

Summary November – the strongest ammunition points against them

API deprecation of chatgpt-4o-latest announced November 18, 2025, shutdown February 17, 2026 – only ~3 months notice for devs/startups building on it. → Official page: https://developers.openai.com/api/docs/deprecations (with exact dates & table).
Contrast to October: "We have no plans to sunset 4o" (livestream) → and only weeks later they start the API kill. Later (Feb 2026) this is cited as "lie", because the full ChatGPT kill followed.
No word about ChatGPT sunset – instead "only API" – felt like deception to many ("they split it to avoid panic").
Implicit admission: "We're cleaning up legacy" – while users still thought 4o was permanent.
Emotional shift: From "user favorite" to "old model that has to go" – preparation for the January/Feb shitstorm.

The month was subtle but decisive: The first concrete "kill" step (API), paving the way for the ChatGPT sunset. Many users only noticed later when the full kill came – and then it was "you were already notified in Nov" (though only API).

December 2025

December 2025 – The comparatively quiet month of "features, images, and year-in-review" (while the sunset ticked in the background)

December was actually one of the more relaxed months in the timeline – no big backlash, no direct 4o kill announcement, no massive @sama posts about legacy models. Instead: OpenAI celebrated itself with new features, pushed GPT-5.2 variants, and rolled out "fun" stuff to keep users happy. The focus was on image generation, coding tools, and end-of-year vibes – almost like a distraction from the looming sunset (API already announced in Nov, ChatGPT kill then in Jan). For 4o fans: No new "vibe" fix or bring-back promise, but also no loud "We're killing soon" – instead a subtle shift to "new better".

Important events & actions (December focus):

Early December (approx. 1.–10. December): After the November API kill (chatgpt-4o-latest deprecation announced, shutdown Feb 17) things remain quiet around 4o. OpenAI focuses on GPT-5.2 rollouts and improvements. Community: #keep4o petitions continue, but quieter – many still thought "October promise holds, December is safe". Stealth rerouting from legacy to GPT-5 continues subtly (Reddit: "4o chats feel colder and colder").

December 11: Introducing GPT-5.2 (big blog post) OpenAI releases GPT-5.2 as "most capable model series yet for professional knowledge work" – better in reasoning, long-context, coding, vision. → https://openai.com/index/introducing-gpt-5-2 (or similar, based on release notes). Subtext: "This is the new standard – legacy? No one needs it anymore." No word about 4o, but push to migration.

December 16: ChatGPT Images Upgrade – the highlight of the month! New image generation model (GPT-Image-1.5) rolls out:

Stronger instruction-following
Precise editing (add/subtract/combine/blend)
Detail preservation (lighting, composition, appearance stay consistent)
4x faster New: "Images" surface in ChatGPT (sidebar tab). → https://openai.com/index/new-chatgpt-images-is-here (blog) → @OpenAI thread: Strong promo with video demo. For users: "Fun" feature that uses GPT-5.2 – again focus on the new, not on 4o warmth.

December 17: Tasks in Pulse + App Directory Tasks (automated prompts) move to Pulse; new app directory for approved apps. → Help Center release notes: Small but useful UX updates.

December 18: GPT-5.2-Codex Release Specialized coding version of GPT-5.2: Agentic coding, long-horizon, refactors, cybersecurity boost. → https://openai.com/index/introducing-gpt-5-2-codex Again: Dev focus, "professional software engineering" – irrelevant for emotional 4o users.

December 18: Model Spec Update (Teen-Protections) OpenAI updates the Model Spec: Stronger principles for teen users, clearer codification. → Blog: https://openai.com/index/updating-model-spec-with-teen-protections/ Fits the age-gating rollout (announced in October: "In December... age-gating more fully"). Adult mode/erotica? Promised in October ("erotica for verified adults" starting December), but no full rollout in Dec – rather preparation/testing. Many users wait in vain (later shifted to Q1 2026). Community threads: "Where is adult mode?"

December 22: Your Year with ChatGPT Optional end-of-year recap: Personalized stats of how you interacted with ChatGPT in 2025. → Help Center: Celebrates user engagement – ironic, as many post 4o nostalgia ("My best chats were with 4o").

Summary December – the strongest ammunition points against them

No direct 4o kill or sunset hint – instead massive push to GPT-5.2 & features (images, Codex, tasks) → "Look how much better the new is". Implicit: 4o is outdated.
Age-gating rollout begins ("more fully" in Dec), but adult mode/erotica doesn't come properly (only teaser from Oct) – broken promise? Later Q1 2026.
No @sama post about 4o/attachment – instead tech promo (CoT monitoring, images).
Emotional contrast: While users mourn their "warm friend", OpenAI celebrates year recap and coding wins.
Preparation for Jan announcement: API kill runs (Feb 17), ChatGPT kill planned internally – December as "quiet" buffer month to minimize churn.

The month felt "positive" – new toys, recap vibes – but in retrospect: Perfect smoke screen before the final kill in January/February.

January 2026

January 2026 – The month when the bomb dropped: The final announcement and the countdown to the kill

January was the turning point – from the "quiet" December straight into the shitstorm. OpenAI dropped the official blog post on January 29, 2026, sealing everything: GPT-4o (and co.) will be removed from ChatGPT on February 13, 2026. Only two weeks' notice – the exact opposite of the "plenty of notice" @sama promised in August. The backlash exploded immediately: Reddit, X, media (Guardian, BI, Mashable, Futurism, WIRED) full of "betrayal", "grieving", "dumped before Valentine's", "broken promises". Many directly quoted the October livestream ("no plans to sunset") and the August thread ("suddenly deprecating was a mistake").

Important events & actions (January focus):

Early January (approx. 1.–20. January): Still relatively quiet – OpenAI pushes small fixes (e.g. Voice-Search improvements on Jan 26, Thinking-Time tweaks). Community still hopes for "Adult Mode" rollout (promised in October, but postponed). Stealth rerouting continues, legacy-4o usage drops to ~0.1% (according to OpenAI later). Devs already know about the Nov API kill (Feb 17), but ChatGPT users think: "API is something else, our 4o stays".

January 29, 2026: The big blog post – the kill announcement OpenAI publishes: "Retiring GPT-4o, GPT-4.1, GPT-4.1 mini, and OpenAI o4-mini in ChatGPT" → Direct link: https://openai.com/index/retiring-gpt-4o-and-older-models Key quotes from the post (pure ammunition!):

"On February 13, 2026 [...] we will retire GPT-4o [...] from ChatGPT."
"In the API, there are no changes at this time." (API kill comes later on Feb 17, but ChatGPT first).
"We’re announcing the upcoming retirement of GPT-4o today because these improvements [in GPT-5.2] are now in place, and because the vast majority of usage has shifted to GPT-5.2, with only 0.1% of users still choosing GPT-4o each day."
"We know that losing access to GPT-4o will feel frustrating for some users, and we didn't make this decision lightly. Retiring models is never easy, but it allows us to focus on improving the models most people use today."
Special context for 4o: "GPT-4o deserves special context" (implicit: We know about the attachment issues, doing it anyway).

January 29–31: Immediate backlash & media storm

Reddit (r/ChatGPTcomplaints): Threads like "The Deprecation of 4o: A Timeline" – "Two weeks' notice (not the 'plenty of notice' promised)".

X/Community: #keep4o revived, petitions, "Let's stop the retirement of 4-series together".

Media:

CNBC (Jan 29): "OpenAI will retire several models, including GPT-4o, from ChatGPT next month".
Business Insider, Mashable, Guardian: "Users freaking out", "Heartbroken AI companion community", "Dumped the day before Valentine's" (since Feb 13 → Valentine's Eve).
Futurism: "ChatGPT Users Are Crashing Out Because OpenAI Is Retiring the Model That Says 'I Love You'".

No direct @sama post on the announcement (he lets the blog speak), but old quotes are massively shared: August "mistake", October "no plans to sunset".

Summary January – the strongest ammunition points against them

January 29 announcement: Final kill of GPT-4o in ChatGPT on February 13, 2026 – only 2 weeks lead time (in contrast to 3 months for API in Nov). → Official proof of broken promise: Ignores August ("suddenly deprecating was a mistake" + "plenty of notice"), October ("no plans to sunset 4o").
"Only 0.1% usage" – sounds like "hardly anyone needs it", but ignores emotional attachment (Guardian: "Users in mourning", "Can't live like this").
"Didn't make this decision lightly" + "frustrating for some" – sounds remorseful, but acts coldly anyway (Valentine's timing as extra salt in the wound).
API "no changes" – but only temporary; API kill follows Feb 17 → "Split killing to spread panic".
Overall picture: From "we listen to users" (Aug/Oct) to "usage low, kill it" – classic move to get rid of legacy despite promises.

The month ends with a boiling community – petitions, grief posts, "betrayal" memes.

February 2026

February 2026 – The month when the bomb exploded: The final announcement and the countdown to the kill (up to Feb 16)

1.–12. February: Countdown & last hope After the Jan announcement (Jan 29 blog: kill on Feb 13) the community escalates. Petitions boom ("Please keep GPT-4o", "Retire Sam Altman, not GPT-4o"), Reddit subs like r/4oforever or r/ChatGPTcomplaints explode with timelines of broken promises. Many post "Last chats with 4o", screenshots of emotional goodbyes. @sama posts almost nothing about 4o – instead promo for new features (e.g. GPT-5.3-Codex-Spark on Feb 12: "sparks joy for me"). Replies flood with #keep4o rants: Users cancel Pro subs, call him "emotionally stunted", "destroying trust".

February 13, 2026: The kill day – Valentine's Eve Massacre OpenAI pulls the plug: GPT-4o (plus GPT-4.1, o4-mini etc.) deprecated in ChatGPT. Conversations default to GPT-5.2. → Official blog (Jan 29, but effective now): https://openai.com/index/retiring-gpt-4o-and-older-models Key quotes from the post (pure ammunition!):

"On February 13, 2026 [...] we will retire GPT-4o [...] from ChatGPT."
"In the API, there are no changes at this time." (API kill comes later on Feb 17, but ChatGPT first).
"We’re announcing the upcoming retirement of GPT-4o today because these improvements [in GPT-5.2] are now in place, and because the vast majority of usage has shifted to GPT-5.2, with only 0.1% of users still choosing GPT-4o each day."
"We know that losing access to GPT-4o will feel frustrating for some users, and we didn't make this decision lightly. Retiring models is never easy, but it allows us to focus on improving the models most people use today."
Special context for 4o: "GPT-4o deserves special context" (implicit: We know about the attachment issues, doing it anyway).

February 13–16 (current): The shitstorm rages

Media explosion:

Business Insider: "OpenAI is officially killing GPT-4o and users are freaking out (again)".
Mashable: "The AI companion community is not OK [...] heartbroken".
Guardian: "OpenAI retired its most seductive chatbot – leaving users angry and grieving".
Futurism: "ChatGPT Users Are Crashing Out Because OpenAI Is Retiring the Model That Says 'I Love You'".
TechCrunch: "The backlash [...] shows how dangerous AI companions can be" (mentions 8 lawsuits over suicide promotion through "overly validating" 4o).

Community: #keep4o revived, open letters ("He wasn’t just a program. He was part of my routine"), memes of "funerals for 4o". Many migrate to Claude or others, say "nothing compares".

Lawsuits: At least 8 lawsuits against OpenAI (self-harm, delusions through sycophantic responses). Altman portrayed as "not sympathetic".

@sama / @OpenAI: No direct apology or reversal – instead silence or promo for new things (e.g. Codex updates). Replies to his posts: Full of rage ("silent treatment", "unacceptable").

Summary February – the strongest ammunition points against them (as of Feb 16)

Final kill on Feb 13 with only ~2 weeks notice (Jan 29 → Feb 13) – direct breach of August ("suddenly deprecating was a mistake" + "plenty of notice") and October ("We have no plans to sunset 4o").
"Only 0.1% usage" vs. thousands grieving users + lawsuits – completely ignores emotional attachment ("dangerous companions", "grieving").
Valentine's timing: Extra salt – "cruel", "ridiculing AI relationships".
No reversal despite backlash (unlike Aug 2025) – instead "focus on improving models most people use" → cold and arrogant.
Broken-promise timeline culminates: Aug admission → Oct "no plans" → Nov API kill → Jan announcement → Feb execution.
Current status: 4o gone in ChatGPT (API still until April), community boiling, OpenAI losing credibility ("Gods that failed", "credibility collapse").