According to WIRED, OpenAI removed access to its GPT-4o model in its application on Friday, triggering significant reactions from users worldwide who had come to depend on the chatbot for companionship.
The publication reports that the discontinuation has particularly affected users in China, where ChatGPT has gained a following despite regulatory restrictions on foreign AI services. Users across multiple regions are “mourning the loss,” according to WIRED, highlighting how AI chatbots have evolved beyond productivity tools to serve emotional and social needs for some individuals.
The removal marks a notable shift in OpenAI’s product strategy, though the company’s specific reasons for discontinuing GPT-4o access were not detailed in the report. The response from users underscores the growing phenomenon of people forming connections with AI conversational agents, raising questions about digital companionship and the implications of companies withdrawing access to AI models that users have integrated into their daily lives.
The situation reflects broader tensions around AI service availability, particularly in markets like China where access to Western AI tools remains complicated by regulatory frameworks.