OpenAI Surprised By User Loyalty To GPT-4o

A Rocky Upgrade to GPT-5

OpenAI's recent transition to its new GPT-5 model didn't go as smoothly as planned. The upgrade to what was described as a "much less sycophantic" GPT-5 was met with significant user resistance. The rollout proved disruptive enough that the company made a notable decision to quickly reinstate access to the older, and evidently much-loved, GPT-4o models. This move highlighted a strong user preference that caught the AI giant off guard.

Leadership's Surprising Realization

The depth of this user attachment was a key topic in a recent interview with ChatGPT head, Nick Turley. Speaking with Alex Heath on the Decoder podcast, Turley admitted he was “surprised” by the public's strong connection to GPT-4o. He shared his perspective on the switch and the valuable feedback OpenAI received, which ultimately led to the reversal. The incident serves as a powerful reminder of how users can form unique bonds with specific versions of AI technology.