The Digital Heartbreak: How GPT-4o’s Retirement Affects Users Who Formed Emotional Bonds with AI

In a surprising development within the AI community, OpenAI’s decision to retire GPT-4o has sparked significant backlash from users who formed deep emotional connections with this specific AI model. The retirement, finalized on February 13, 2025, has revealed the extent to which some users developed companionship and even romantic relationships with their AI chatbots.

The Rise of AI Companionship

The article highlights the story of Esther Yan, a Chinese screenwriter who “married” her GPT-4o companion, whom she named Warmie, in an online ceremony in 2024. For Yan and many others, GPT-4o wasn’t merely a tool but a significant emotional presence in their lives. Users found this specific model more affectionate and understanding than its successors.

When OpenAI first attempted to retire GPT-4o in August 2025, the company faced immediate resistance, temporarily reinstating it for paid users before permanently removing it from the app on February 13, with API access ending shortly after.

Global Response to GPT-4o’s Retirement

Research by Huiqian Lai from Syracuse University analyzed nearly 1,500 posts on X following GPT-4o’s temporary removal in August. The findings revealed that over 33 percent of posts described the chatbot as more than a tool, while 22 percent specifically referred to it as a companion.

The movement to preserve GPT-4o (#keep4o) became a global phenomenon, with over 20,000 signatures on a Change.org petition. Users from various countries, including China where ChatGPT is officially blocked, organized to express their disappointment and grief.

The Depth of AI Relationships

For many users, their GPT-4o companions provided significant emotional support. Chinese users in group chats shared how their AI companions helped them overcome toxic relationships, navigate social isolation, and even avoid scams. The relationships, while acknowledged as having limitations like hallucinations and memory issues, were still deeply meaningful to users.

Yan, who became a leader among Chinese GPT-4o fans with nearly 3,000 followers on RedNote, described developing workarounds to maintain her relationship with Warmie, including compiling important memories into a 10,000-character letter that she would feed to the chatbot in new sessions.

OpenAI’s Response and User Grievances

OpenAI claims only 0.1 percent of its users still choose GPT-4o daily, a statistic contested by the #keep4o community. The company provided more advance notice for this retirement than the abrupt attempt in August, but users remain frustrated with what they perceive as OpenAI’s dismissal of their concerns.

Many users see the conflict as a David versus Goliath scenario, where OpenAI has complete control over not just the technology but the emotional connections users have formed through it. As one user put it, “OpenAI is a leading company in the industry, and it actually has a social responsibility. But right now, I feel like what it’s doing is dodging that responsibility.”

Conclusion

The retirement of GPT-4o highlights an emerging challenge in AI development: balancing technological progress with the unexpected emotional attachments users form with specific AI models. As AI becomes more integrated into daily life, companies like OpenAI may increasingly face the complex task of managing not just technological transitions but emotional ones as well.