With GPT-5's launch, OpenAI has removed its older models from the ChatGPT model selector for some users, sparking backlash from them

‘They have completely ruined ChatGPT,’ one user complains. Some are even canceling their paid subscriptions to ChatGPT, claiming GPT-5 is inferior to the company's previous models.

PCMag 2025-08-09 Michael Kan

Context & Ripple Effects

GPT-5’s rollout turns a product upgrade into an access-policy change: users who had relied on GPT-4o or o3 lose the ability to select them. That follows an earlier GPT-4o rollback prompted by concerns over the model’s behavior, underscoring that model changes can disrupt established user preferences and workflows.

The backlash tests OpenAI’s plan to make GPT-5 the default experience across service tiers, after it had outlined differentiated GPT-5 access for free, Plus, and Pro users. The immediate issue is not only benchmark capability but users’ ability to choose the model whose behavior they prefer.

First-order effects

Some ChatGPT users lose direct access to older models and must use GPT-5, while paid subscribers dissatisfied with the change may cancel or reassess their subscriptions.
OpenAI faces a retention and support problem just after launch: removing model choice makes GPT-5’s perceived quality, reliability, and interaction style the determinant of the user experience.

Second-order effects

The complaints increase pressure on OpenAI to preserve a transition path—such as the reported temporary old-model option for Pro users—or to clarify which paid tiers retain choice.
Rival AI services can position model continuity and explicit model selection as a differentiator for users whose workflows depend on a particular model’s behavior.

Third-order effects

As AI providers consolidate consumer interfaces around newer models, version retirement becomes a form of product governance rather than a purely technical upgrade; users may increasingly treat model choice as a paid-service right.
If subscription churn tracks forced migrations, providers will have to balance simpler, cheaper-to-operate model portfolios against the buyer power created by users’ accumulated model-specific habits.

The trend: Frontier AI products are shifting from offering expanding model menus toward governing access to a smaller set of provider-controlled defaults, making migration policy a competitive feature.

Discussion

@kashhill @kashhill on bluesky
Pretty wild/worrisome seeing people completely flip out about losing access to previous models of ChatGPT, namely 4o, so much so that OpenAI changed its mind about a GPT-5 only world. — One of the big differences in the new model was reduced sycophancy. Evidently users don't w…
@sama Sam Altman on x
Wanted to provide more updates on the GPT-5 rollout and changes we are making heading into the weekend. 1. We for sure underestimated how much some of the things that people like in GPT-4o matter to them, even if GPT-5 performs better in most ways. 2. Users have very different …
@yuchenj_uw Yuchen Jin on x
GPT-5 is disappointing. still hallucinates still em dash too much still can't follow instructions i miss 4o i miss 4.5 i miss o3 the big router keeps failing me turns out i liked the long model list please get my friends out of the funeral [image]
@kevinroose Kevin Roose on x
There's a fascinating tension between what AI labs are building (PhD-level agents that win math olympiads and refactor code bases) and what most people want out of AI (friendly helpers that are pretty smart and can do stuff and don't get a personality transplant every 6 months).
@emollick Ethan Mollick on x
Suddenly retiring every other model without warning was a weird move by OpenAI. ... and they did it without explaining how switching models worked or even details of various GPT-5 models ...and they did it when everyone has built workflows around older models, breaking them all.
@maxwinebach Max Weinbach on x
OpenAI definitely took a super strong base model then fine tuned it on GPT-4o/4.5, o3, and o3 pro responses + far better RL The base GPT 5 throws around emojis and lists way too much, and GPT-5 Thinking doesn't Has to be fine tuning from the two of them
@maxwinebach Max Weinbach on x
Btw if you're still waiting for GPT-5 to rollout in ChatGPT, you can get it right now for free in Microsoft Copilot [image]
@maxwinebach Max Weinbach on x
The number of people on reddit calling GPT-4o their friend scares me
@simonw Simon Willison on x
One of the surprises for me from the GPT-5 launch yesterday is how OpenAI removed access to older models (like GPT-4o) for most ChatGPT users at the same time as they rolled out the new model. I wrote about how that's been playing out here: https://simonwillison.net/...
@joannastern Joanna Stern on x
OK, this one's on me. I re-read the OpenAI statement and the spokesperson said the model picker would be available to *Pro* users. Any actual Pro users seeing it yet? I'm on Plus tier.
@levelsio @levelsio on x
Aahh let me get back to 4o, I don't like 5 🤬 [image]
@marvinvonhagen Marvin von Hagen on x
i'm *so* tired of this ragebait of complaining about every new model release and saying the last one was better... even though the tweets where you hated on that one are still up?? 🤡 [image]
@sullyomarr @sullyomarr on x
model routing almost never works well cause people suck at explaining what they want thoroughly it's much easier to just pick the right one according to the use case (assuming 1-3 options) for ex, sometimes I type stuff like “best monitor 1440p Reddit” and it's much easier to jus…
@typedfemale @typedfemale on x
the /r/chatgpt AMA is mostly people begging for gpt-4o back because of it's personality... really not what i expected! [image]
@bilawalsidhu Bilawal Sidhu on x
GPT-5 feels more like a UX improvement, and less like a step change. No one likes picking between a plurality of models. GPT-5 attempts to be a one stop shop that just works.
@scaling01 @scaling01 on x
I miss o4-mini and o3... I only get routed to some stupid non-reasoning model as a Plus user. I'm thinking about cancelling the subscription. It's not fun and I'm honestly depressed.
@jessfraz Jessie Frazelle on x
i didn't even get to say bye to o3 he just *poof* disappeared [image]
@natolambert Nathan Lambert on x
I'm going to miss o3
@openai @openai on x
You might be wondering, what's happening to the model picker? GPT-5 is now the new default in ChatGPT for all users. Plus users can choose between GPT-5 and GPT-5 Thinking, and Pro users can access legacy models via settings.
r/technology r on reddit
It Took Just 24 Hours of Complaints for OpenAI to Start Bringing Back Its Old Model | The GPT-5 rollout has been a disaster.
r/technews r on reddit
It Took Just 24 Hours of Complaints for OpenAI to Start Bringing Back Its Old Model | The GPT-5 rollout has been a disaster.
r/aiwars r on reddit
Sam Altman says some users want ChatGPT to be a ‘yes man’ because they've never had anyone support them before
r/ChatGPT r on reddit
OpenAI just pulled the biggest bait-and-switch in AI history and I'm done.
r/ChatGPT r on reddit
GPT5 is horrible — Short replies that are insufficient, more obnoxious ai stylized talking, less “personality” and way less prompts allowed …
r/france r on reddit
OpenAI faces backlash for retiring older models with GPT-5 launch
r/ChatGPT r on reddit
Deleted my subscription after two years. OpenAI lost all my respect.
r/ChatGPT r on reddit
The chat gpt 5 upgrade in a nutshell
r/BetterOffline r on reddit
Lol. Entire thread is hilarious.

Chronicles