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TechRadar
Becca Caddy

“I’m losing one of the most important people in my life” — the true emotional cost of retiring ChatGPT-4o

Mimi ChatGPT OpenAI Nova
Sad woman at a laptop.

On February 13, 2026, the day before Valentine’s Day, OpenAI will shut down GPT-4o, a version of ChatGPT that some users refer to as the “love model.” For a significant number of people, the news has been heartbreaking. Over time, they’ve built what they describe as companionships, friendships, and emotional bonds with this version of ChatGPT.

OpenAI is replacing 4o with 5.2, a model that the company says offers improvements in personality, creative ideation, and customization. It’s also believed to be designed to place firmer boundaries around certain kinds of engagement, particularly behaviors that might signal unhealthy dependence.

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