OpenAI has announced that several older AI models will be retired from ChatGPT on February 13, 2026, including GPT-4o, GPT-4.1, GPT-4.1 mini, and o4-mini, alongside the previously announced retirement of GPT-5 Instant and Thinking variants.
The company confirmed that there are no changes to the API, meaning developers can continue using these models through OpenAI’s API for now.
GPT-4o received special attention in the announcement. After initially being deprecated and later restored during the GPT-5 launch, OpenAI says it learned more about how users relied on GPT-4o—especially for creative ideation and its warm, conversational style. Feedback from Plus and Pro users played a key role in temporarily bringing the model back.
According to OpenAI, that feedback directly influenced GPT-5.1 and GPT-5.2, which now include improved personality, stronger creative support, and new customization controls. Users can choose response styles like Friendly and adjust warmth and enthusiasm, giving more control over how ChatGPT feels—not just what it produces.
OpenAI says usage has now overwhelmingly shifted to GPT-5.2, with only 0.1% of users still selecting GPT-4o daily, prompting the final retirement decision. The company also confirmed ongoing work to reduce overly cautious responses, improve creativity, and expand user choice. As part of this effort, age prediction systems have been rolled out in most regions to better support users under 18.
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