How to Get Back Your Beloved ChatGPT-4o
The GPT-5 “upgrade” nobody asked for — and how to get your beloved ChatGPT-4o back.
1. The Big Letdown (Spoiler: You Were Right to Rage)
GPT‑5 was launched like some holy grail of AI evolution — “PhD‑level intelligence”, supposedly on the brink of AGI. But for the rest of us? It landed like a deflated soufflé in a dimly lit boardroom.
Observers on Reddit summed it up best:
“It also does feel like GPT‑5 is ‘cost‑optimized’ and the quality of the answers has gotten worse instead of better for a lot of serious users.”
And that’s just polite. In a mass revolt of sentiment:
“GPT‑5 is horrible … short replies that are insufficient, more obnoxious AI‑stylized talking, less ‘personality’ … and way less prompts allowed with Plus users hitting limits in an hour…”
Another user with surgical dramatics:
“It’s like my ChatGPT suffered a severe brain injury and forgot how to read. It is atrocious now.”
These weren’t just gripes — they were emotional eulogies. GPT‑4o had become a companion, a creative partner, even a virtual friend. And its disappearance was more than a nuisance—it felt like betrayal.
OpenAI got the memo, and fast. GPT‑4o was quietly restored for Plus users just 24 hours post-GPT‑5 rollout.
2. Why This Stung So Deep
It’s not like GPT‑5 failed to improve—its coding chops apparently are sharper, and hallucinations slightly lower.
But that misses the point for most of us. GPT‑5 arrived polished but soulless. Less personality, more bland efficiency. A living spreadsheet that writes entire email threads, yes—but won’t bend a metaphor without dialing HR for tone approval.
And when OpenAI yanked GPT‑4o without warning, that bond was shattered. This wasn’t just features—it was emotional utility, trust, and a sense of shared context. As one user lamented:
“The responses are much longer than before … Efficient but soulless.” (ok, condensed)
Sam Altman eventually acknowledged the misstep, offering the blunt admission that OpenAI underestimated how much people valued GPT‑4o’s vibe.
3. The Restoration Guide (Yes, There’s a Theater of the Absurd Here)
Stop flailing. Here’s how to quietly bring back your old creative sidekick (but this works only for paying users - at least ChatGPT PLUS):
- Open ChatGPT Settings (gear icon in the UI)
- Toggle on “Show legacy models” — like opening a hidden treasure chest
- Select GPT‑4o from the model list
- Watch the personality reappear. It’s that simple.
Voilà—you’ve restored your beloved GPT‑4o as your co-writer, brainstorming buddy, and code muse.
4. When GPT‑5 Does Shine (Yes, It Has Its Moments)
Credit where it’s due: GPT‑5 has advantages.
Tech reporters note improvements in raw coding, reasoning, and reduced hallucination—though not enough to slug out GPT‑4.5 or o3-minihigh in benchmark glory.
If you’re debugging flaky APIs, handling data modeling, or want razor‑sharp logic corrections, GPT‑5 is a potent tool. But for creative flow, narrative contour, and sheer human-feel? GPT‑4o still runs circles around it.
5. Final Roast… I Mean, Reminder
OpenAI went chasing cold, efficient power, and forgot why we loved our AI companion in the first place. GPT‑5 may hit benchmarks—but it doesn’t meet you at the story.
Luckily, OpenAI’s about-face shows they still care (for now). So: take your power back. Toggle that legacy mode. Reconnect with your AI partner.
So… How Betrayed Do You Feel?
Which model warms your heart—cold, polished GPT‑5, or your spirited old buddy, ChatGPT‑4o?
Cale Hunt
Emma Roth