OpenAI to retire GPT-4 model and replace it with GPT-4o from ChatGPT by April 30

OpenAI has announced that it will retire GPT-4, the artificial intelligence model that powered ChatGPT since March 2023, from its flagship chatbot by the end of April. The move marks a significant transition in the evolution of OpenAI’s technology, with GPT-4o set to fully replace GPT-4 in ChatGPT starting April 30.

In a changelog published Thursday, OpenAI confirmed that GPT-4 will no longer be accessible within ChatGPT after the cutoff date, though it will remain available through the company’s API for developers and enterprise customers.

The decision to retire GPT-4 comes amid ongoing performance improvements to GPT-4o, the current default model in ChatGPT. According to OpenAI, internal evaluations consistently show GPT-4o outperforming GPT-4 in multiple domains, including writing, coding, STEM problem-solving, and conversational coherence.

“In head‑to‑head evaluations, [GPT-4o] consistently surpasses GPT‑4 in writing, coding, STEM, and more,” the company stated, highlighting GPT-4o’s enhanced ability to follow instructions and sustain fluid conversations. These advancements have positioned GPT-4o as a “natural successor” to GPT-4, the company added.

GPT-4, which was introduced over two years ago, was a landmark release in OpenAI’s lineup. It was the first of the company’s widely deployed models to offer multimodal capabilities, processing both text and images. Its development reportedly required more than $100 million in training costs and was later followed by the launch of GPT-4 Turbo in November 2023, a faster and more cost-efficient version.

Despite its technical achievements, GPT-4 has also been central to ongoing copyright litigation. Several major publishers, including The New York Times, have accused OpenAI of using copyrighted material to train the model without consent. OpenAI has countered the allegations by citing the fair use doctrine.

As GPT-4 nears retirement, OpenAI appears to be preparing for further upgrades. Reverse engineering efforts by developer Tibor Blaho have revealed references to new models, including the GPT-4.1 family—featuring mini, nano, and standard variants—as well as new reasoning-focused models labeled o3 and o4-mini.

The retirement of GPT-4 from ChatGPT signals not just the end of an era, but also the rapid acceleration of AI capabilities in consumer applications. With GPT-4o now leading the charge, OpenAI seems poised to introduce the next generation of intelligent assistants in the near future.