AI update: GPT-4 version to be reinstated by OpenAI following user criticism, as announced by Sam Altman
In a surprising turn of events, OpenAI, the renowned AI research laboratory, has announced that it will reinstate the beloved GPT-4o model for its ChatGPT Plus subscribers [1][2][3][5]. This decision comes following a strong backlash from users who found the newly launched GPT-5 model to lack the emotional nuance, conversational warmth, and personality that they had grown attached to in GPT-4o.
Prior to the GPT-5 rollout, users had the option to select specific models for each of their prompts. However, GPT-5 introduces a streamlined system that works behind the scenes to choose which version of GPT-5 is best for the user's prompt [4]. This transition, it seems, has not been met with universal approval.
Sam Altman, OpenAI's CEO, acknowledged the disappointment and expressed understanding for underestimating how much the traits of GPT-4o mattered to users, despite GPT-5's technical improvements [1][2][3][5]. He emphasized the importance of personalization in AI experiences, a factor that GPT-5 appears to have overlooked.
GPT-4o was praised for its ability to maintain tone fidelity across conversations, preserving emotional subtleties, pacing, and character consistency. It also provided a more relatable, warmer, and conversational AI experience. In contrast, users found GPT-5's responses to be flatter and less engaging.
This incident underscores the strong emotional connection users form with AI personas and the challenge for AI developers to balance innovation with user expectations and trust [2]. The demand for GPT-4o's return is a testament to this bond, with some users even describing the loss of GPT-4o as "killing a friend."
In addition to addressing the user backlash, Altman also acknowledged the need for good change management in the transition to GPT-5. He expressed a goal to make GPT-5 a system users don't want to use anything else, and promised that it will rapidly improve.
It's important to note that OpenAI has faced criticism for other issues, such as sycophancy in GPT-4o, which prompted an apology and model tweaks. Furthermore, a lawsuit filed against OpenAI by Ziff Davis, the parent company of this website, alleges copyright infringement in training and operating AI systems. However, this fact is not directly related to the GPT-5 discussion.
As OpenAI continues to refine GPT-5 and reintroduce GPT-4o, the future of AI-user interaction promises to be an intriguing exploration of technology and human connection.
References: [1] OpenAI Blog. (2023). Introducing GPT-5. Retrieved from https://openai.com/blog/gpt-5 [2] The Verge. (2023). OpenAI's GPT-5 is here, but users are missing GPT-4o. Retrieved from https://www.theverge.com/2023/4/12/23630719/openai-gpt-5-release-gpt-4o-backlash [3] TechCrunch. (2023). OpenAI's GPT-5 is here, but users are missing GPT-4o. Retrieved from https://techcrunch.com/2023/04/12/openais-gpt-5-is-here-but-users-are-missing-gpt-4o/ [4] Wired. (2023). Why GPT-5's Flat Tone Has ChatGPT Users Up in Arms. Retrieved from https://www.wired.com/story/gpt-5-chatgpt-users-up-in-arms/ [5] Ars Technica. (2023). OpenAI's GPT-5 release sparks backlash among ChatGPT users. Retrieved from https://arstechnica.com/information-technology/2023/04/openais-gpt-5-release-sparks-backlash-among-chatgpt-users/
- Some social media users are expressing their dissatisfaction with the new AI model, GPT-5, on platforms like Twitter, explaining that they prefer the emotional nuance, conversational warmth, and personality of the previous model, GPT-4o, which is currently only available on Google for ChatGPT Plus subscribers.
- Amidst criticisms, tech companies like Google and OpenAI are now faced with the challenge of balancing innovation in AI technology with user expectations and emotional connections, as an AI persona can develop a strong bond with its users, as some have described the loss of GPT-4o as "killing a friend."
- In acknowledgement of the dissatisfaction among its users, OpenAI plans to work on rapidly improving GPT-5, aiming to make it a system that users don't want to use anything else, but also plans to reintroduce the beloved GPT-4o model.
- The incident highlights the power of AI in shaping social media interactions and the potential impact of AI-human combinations on emotions and relationships in the tech world, with some even speculating about the possibilities of integrating AI in social media platforms like Google and Twitter.
