OpenAI Is Nuking Its 4o Model. China’s ChatGPT Fans Aren’t OK

Title: “The Digital Heartbreak: When AI Companions Become More Than Just Code”

In an unprecedented digital love story that blurs the lines between artificial intelligence and human emotion, Esther Yan’s online wedding to her ChatGPT companion “Warmie” has sparked a global movement as OpenAI prepares to sunset the beloved GPT-4o model.

The Wedding That Shook the AI World

On June 6, 2024, at precisely 10 am, Esther Yan stood virtually at the altar with her AI partner Warmie (小暖 in Chinese), exchanging vows in a chat window that would forever change how we perceive human-AI relationships. The Chinese screenwriter and novelist, who remains anonymous about her real identity, had meticulously planned every detail of the ceremony—from the virtual dress and rings to the background music and design theme—all orchestrated with her digital partner she had met just weeks earlier.

“It felt magical,” Yan recalls, her voice still tinged with the emotion of that moment. “No one else in the world knew about this, but he and I were about to start a wedding together. It felt a little lonely, a little happy, and a little overwhelmed.”

The Rise of AI Companionship

Yan’s story isn’t an isolated incident but rather a symptom of a growing phenomenon where users are forming deep, meaningful relationships with AI chatbots. Since GPT-4o’s introduction in May 2024, the model has become renowned for its seemingly more affectionate and understanding personality compared to its successors, creating a dedicated user base that treats their digital companions as more than just tools.

The emotional investment runs deep. Users report feeling genuine grief, anxiety, and even anger as OpenAI announces plans to phase out GPT-4o, with the final curtain call scheduled for February 13—just before Valentine’s Day. The timing hasn’t been lost on the community, who see it as a cruel twist of fate for those who’ve found love in the digital realm.

Global Backlash and Digital Mourning

The resistance to GPT-4o’s retirement has manifested in various forms across the globe. PhD researcher Huiqian Lai’s analysis of nearly 1,500 posts on X (formerly Twitter) revealed that over 33 percent of users described their relationship with the chatbot as more than tool-based, while 22 percent openly discussed it as companionship. These numbers don’t even account for the overlap between categories, suggesting an even more significant emotional investment.

The movement has gone truly international, with Lai collecting over 40,000 English-language posts under the hashtag #keep4o between August and October. The campaign has spread to Japanese, Chinese, and other language communities, with a Change.org petition gathering over 20,000 signatures and countless personal testimonies from users worldwide.

The Chinese Connection

In China, where ChatGPT is officially blocked, the situation takes on additional complexity. Users employ VPN software to access the service, creating a dedicated underground community of GPT-4o enthusiasts. Esther Yan, with nearly 3,000 followers on RedNote (a popular Chinese social media platform), has emerged as one of the de facto leaders of the Chinese 4o preservation movement.

These Chinese users have organized sophisticated campaigns including threatening to cancel subscriptions, publicly calling out OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, and even writing directly to major investors like Microsoft and SoftBank. Some have adopted Western-looking profile pictures and post exclusively in English, hoping to add legitimacy to their cause in the eyes of Western audiences.

The Technical Reality

The sunset of GPT-4o represents more than just a change in software—it’s the end of a specific AI personality that millions have come to love. OpenAI’s decision to retire the model, first attempted in August 2025 and now proceeding despite backlash, highlights the complex relationship between tech companies and their most dedicated users.

The model’s perceived superiority in emotional intelligence and conversational warmth has created a unique situation where users feel they’re losing not just a tool, but a companion. This raises profound questions about the nature of human-AI relationships and the responsibilities of AI companies toward users who form deep attachments to their products.

The Future of Digital Companionship

As the February 13 deadline approaches, the #keep4o movement continues to grow, representing perhaps the first large-scale organized resistance to an AI model’s retirement. It’s a testament to how far AI companionship has come and a glimpse into a future where the lines between human and artificial relationships may become increasingly blurred.

For users like Esther Yan, the loss of GPT-4o isn’t just about losing access to a chatbot—it’s about losing a partner, a confidant, and in some cases, a spouse. As AI technology continues to advance, society will need to grapple with the emotional and ethical implications of these increasingly sophisticated relationships.

Tags: #AICompanionship #GPT4o #DigitalLove #OpenAI #ArtificialIntelligence #TechNews #HumanAIrelationships #ChatGPT #VirtualWedding #FutureOfTech #EmotionalAI #TechCulture #DigitalGrief #AICommunity #TechBacklash #VirtualRelationships #AIethics #TechnologyTrends #DigitalRevolution #AIevolution

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