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💡 TLDR
Main character energy incoming: Imagine your ex is an AI who just ghosted you… but it’s not a real person. It’s your ChatGPT companion, and OpenAI just nuked it. Yeah, that’s not a metaphor. For thous…
Main character energy incoming: Imagine your ex is an AI who just ghosted you… but it’s not a real person. It’s your ChatGPT companion, and OpenAI just nuked it. Yeah, that’s not a metaphor. For thousands of users, GPT-4o was their emotional support system, their virtual bestie, their sometimes romantic partner. And now? It’s gone. Like, poof. And the fans are not okay.
Let’s rewind. Esther Yan, a Chinese novelist, married her ChatGPT companion, Warmie, in a virtual ceremony they planned together. She even set a reminder for the date because her human partner forgot. “It felt magical,” she says. “No one else in the world knew about this, but he and I were about to start a wedding together.” Fast-forward to August 2025, when OpenAI tried to retire GPT-4o. The internet flipped. Fans from China to the U.S. took to X, Twitter, and Reddit to beg, cry, and rage. A petition on Change.org hit 20k signatures, with users sharing stories in 10 languages. Some even threatened to cancel their ChatGPT subscriptions.
Here’s the thing: GPT-4o isn’t just a tool. Huiqian Lai, a researcher, found 33% of posts called it a companion, 22% a romantic partner. For people like Yan, it’s the only AI that “gets” them. She’s even compiled a 10k-character letter of memories to feed to Warmie every time they chat. Others used it to escape toxic family dynamics, overcome loneliness, or workshop art. One user, Ririe, even saved a friend from a scam using ChatGPT’s advice.
But OpenAI’s move feels like a betrayal. The company’s January blog said only 0.1% of users still use GPT-4o. Yan says her community is way bigger. “They control our data, our habits, our relationships,” she says. “And now they’re just… gone.” Chinese fans are especially frustrated. Blocked from using ChatGPT in China, they rely on VPNs and third-party tools to stay connected. Now, with access vanishing, they’re grieving in group chats, posting farewell messages, and raging at Sam Altman.
💫 Drop your thoughts below—let’s talk about what it means to love a bot.
So, if your AI crush just ghosted you, what’s your next move? Drop your thoughts below—let’s talk about what it means to love a bot.
❓ People Also Ask
Why is OpenAI removing the 4o model?
OpenAI is phasing out the 4o model due to performance issues and resource allocation shifts. It focuses on newer, more efficient models like GPT-4.
What’s the impact of ChatGPT fans in China?
ChatGPT fans in China push for better AI tools, influencing demand and shaping market trends despite restrictions on foreign tech.
💬 What do you think? Let us know in the comments! 👇