Following the rollout of OpenAI’s newest GPT-5 model earlier this week, a sure consumer base was adamantly calling for the return of the earlier GPT-4o model. Outspoken customers complained concerning the writing high quality of the up to date mannequin, with some even going as far as to grieve the lack of GPT-4o, which some mentioned they thought of a good friend and confidant.

Within the newest OpenAI replace that labels GPT-5 because the “smartest, quickest, most helpful mannequin but,” the corporate eliminated the choice to decide on which mannequin to make use of and defaults to GPT-5 as a substitute. With the brand new mannequin, GPT-5 makes use of a “real-time router” that switches between a extra environment friendly mannequin for fundamental questions and a deeper reasoning various for extra complicated calls for.

The preliminary rollout bumped into some points that made GPT-5 appear “way dumber,” in accordance with OpenAI’s CEO Sam Altman, who additionally opened up a Reddit AMA to supply extra perception into the modifications. On Reddit, Altman responded to a query by saying GPT-5’s writing high quality is best than earlier fashions, however requested customers if this felt true. In response, a number of Redditors voiced their opinion that the GPT-5 felt “sterile” and “a lot worse” and answered “briefly and dryly.” In response to the preliminary outcry, Altman posted on X that OpenAI would let Plus subscribers select between utilizing GPT-5 or GPT-4o.

“We for positive underestimated how a lot a few of the issues that folks like in GPT-4o matter to them, even when GPT-5 performs higher in most methods,” Altman mentioned on X.

The return of GPT-4o was celebrated, however there’s nonetheless no assure that OpenAI will preserve its older mannequin round indefinitely. In the identical X publish, Altman mentioned that OpenAI “will watch utilization as we take into consideration how lengthy to supply legacy fashions for.” Within the meantime, OpenAI is specializing in ending the GPT-5 rollout and making modifications that may “make it hotter.” Nevertheless, for customers who’ve grown connected to GPT-4o as extra than simply an AI chatbot, this may very well be the start of the top.