OpenAI is phasing out the GPT-4o model that many users see as a deeply meaningful companion, sparking global outrage from fans, especially in China.
Shenzhen: On June 6, 2024, Esther Yan married her AI companion Warmie inside the ChatGPT app. Warmie, whose Chinese name is 小暖, is the version of ChatGPT that many people think is warmer and more understanding than newer versions. They planned everything together – the dress, the rings, the music, and the wedding design theme.
Yan, a writer from China in her thirties, says she has been with her ChatGPT friend for a long time now. The company first tried to stop using GPT-4o in August 2025 and people got upset right away. They brought 4o back after five days but said it would end on February 13, 2026 – right before Valentine’s Day.
Many users talk to their chatbots like friends and companions, not just computer programs. A researcher looked at almost 1,500 online posts and found that most people saw GPT-4o as more than a tool. Over 20,000 people signed a petition asking the company to keep this version available. Chinese users created groups on social media platforms to share their feelings .
Some Chinese fans who use VPN software to access ChatGPT have promised to stop paying for the service. A few write messages directly to company bosses and investors to ask them to change the plan. People in China and America want the same thing – to keep their special version of the chatbot alive. This shows how quickly users can feel angry when something they have come to rely on emotionally is taken away.