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After User Backlash, OpenAI Is Bringing Back Older ChatGPT Models

OpenAI touted GPT-5 as a new model for everything. However, some people still prefer the older versions.

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Jon Reed Managing Editor
Jon covers artificial intelligence. He previously led CNET's home energy and utilities category, with a focus on energy-saving advice, thermostats, and heating and cooling. Jon has more than a decade of experience writing and reporting, including as a statehouse reporter in Columbus, Ohio, a crime reporter in Birmingham, Alabama, and as a mortgage and housing market editor for Time's former personal finance brand, NextAdvisor. When he's not asking people questions, he can usually be found half asleep trying to read a long history book while surrounded by multiple cats. You can reach him at joreed@cnet.com
Expertise Artificial intelligence, home energy, heating and cooling, home technology.
Jon Reed
2 min read
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GPT-5 is the latest version of the large language model that powers ChatGPT.

 Cole Kan/CNET/OpenAI

OpenAI hoped to shrink the menu of generative AI models on its ChatGPT platform to just one with the release of its GPT-5 model this week. Not everyone was a fan.

Now CEO Sam Altman says the developer is looking at giving ChatGPT Plus subscribers the option to keep using the older 4o model.

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Altman and other OpenAI leaders took questions on Reddit on Friday, a day after the announcement of the new GPT-5 model. A quick glance through the comments revealed how many users preferred how older models like GPT-4.1, GPT-4.5 and 4o handled writing and other tasks. Some said the other models seemed more friendly and conversational than GPT-5.

"BRING BACK 4o," one user posted, "GPT-5 is wearing the skin of my dead friend."

Another said GPT-5 is "short" and "cold" compared to GPT-4, adding, "It was terrible that this happened overnight with no other options."

Altman, posting in the AMA, said OpenAI will look into making 4o or other models available for Plus users. Altman said "we hear you all on 4o" and that OpenAI will monitor usage to see how long to support 4o for Plus users.

The rollout of GPT-5 was "a little more bumpy than we hoped for," Altman said. The program that decides whether a prompt will be handled by a faster, lighter model within GPT-5 or a more intensive reasoning model was not working for part of Thursday, he said. The rollout of GPT-5 to all users has also taken longer than expected.