OpenAI to Phase Out GPT-4 in Favor of Multimodal GPT-4o

OpenAI has declared that its GPT-4 model will soon be entirely removed from ChatGPT, paving the way for its more advanced multimodal successor—GPT-4o.

Per the latest ChatGPT release notes (as noted by TechCrunch), GPT-4 will be officially retired from ChatGPT on April 30. Although GPT-4 will remain available through OpenAI’s API, the organization has made it clear that GPT-4o now provides enhanced capabilities, rendering the predecessor model mostly outdated.

“Recent enhancements have significantly improved GPT‑4o’s instruction execution, problem-solving skills, and conversation flow, establishing it as a natural evolution from GPT‑4,” the release notes indicate.

This transition emphasizes the swift advancement of innovation in the AI domain. GPT-4, which launched in March 2023, marked a major progression from GPT-3.5—the model that facilitated the initial viral debut of ChatGPT. Since that time, OpenAI has rolled out GPT-4o, a multimodal model that can handle text, images, and audio, along with other “o-series” models that exhibit enhanced reasoning capabilities referred to as “chain-of-thought” processing.

The decision to retire GPT-4 isn’t completely unexpected. In March, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman disclosed on X (previously Twitter) that the company was aiming to streamline its product offerings. He mentioned that GPT-4.5 would be the final model without chain-of-thought reasoning and that future efforts would concentrate on integrating the GPT and o-series models into a cohesive platform designed for user requirements. Establishing GPT-4o as the primary model is a significant milestone in that journey.

While GPT-5 is still under development, its launch has faced multiple delays. Altman indicated it would debut “in a few months,” yet no confirmed date has been provided. In the interim, OpenAI intends to unveil standalone versions of o3 and o4-mini models.

As GPT-4 departs, OpenAI recognizes its significance as a “defining moment in ChatGPT’s progression.” Its retirement signifies the conclusion of one era—and the commencement of another propelled by GPT-4o.