The return of GPT-4o comes after what Altman described as OpenAI underestimating “how much some of the things that people like in GPT-4o matter to them.” In an attempt to simplify its offerings, OpenAI had initially removed all previous AI models from ChatGPT when GPT-5 launched on August 7, forcing users to adopt the new model without warning.
The move sparked one of the most vocal user revolts in ChatGPT’s history, with a Reddit thread titled: “GPT-5 is horrible” gathering over 2,000 comments within days.
Along with bringing back GPT-4o, OpenAI made several other changes to address user concerns. Rate limits for GPT-5 Thinking mode increased from 200 to 3,000 messages per week, with additional capacity available through “GPT-5 Thinking mini” after reaching that limit.
Engadget reported: ChatGPT will now allow you to choose between several GPT-5 variants and previous OpenAI models. In a post on X, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman has revealed that the chatbot’s model picker now comes with three GPT choices: Auto, Fast and Thinking.
He said most “will want Auto,” which is most likely the standard version that’s already a reasoning model. But users will be able to choose the fast-responding version or the Thinking version that implies it delivers longer, more comprehensive answers if they want to. GPT-4o is also back in the model picker for all paying users by default.
OpenAI removed GPT-4o with the launch of GPT-5: The company significantly simplified ChatGPT because GPT-5 was supposed to offer a unified experience for users. However, its decision was met by criticism from people who preferred GPT-4o’s personality better, especially since it didn’t give them notice that it was deprecating older models.
TechCrunch reported: When OpenAI launched GPT-5 last week, the company said the model would simplify the ChatGPT experience. OpenAI hoped GPT-5 would act as a sort of “one size fits all” AI model with a router that would automatically decide how to best answer user questions.
The company said this unified approach would eliminate the need for users to navigate the model picker — a long, complicated menu of AI options that OpenAI CEO Sam Altman has publicly says he hates.
But it looks like GPT-5 is not the unified AI model OpenAI hoped it would be.
Altman said in a post on X Tuesday that the company introduced new “Auto,” “Fast,” and “Thinking” settings for GPT-5 that all ChatGPT users can select for the model picker. The auto setting seems to work like GPT-5’s model router that OpenAI initially announced; however, the company is also giving users options to circumnavigate it, allowing them to access fast and slow responding AI models directly.”