OpenAI replaced GPT-4o, but some users still refuse to let it die now theyre celebrating its birthday in Times Square with a video billboard

Date:
Thu, 14 May 2026 09:56:01 +0000

Description:
Fans of retired OpenAI model GPT-4o organized a birthday tribute for the chatbot in Times Square, and they still want it back.

FULL STORY ======================================================================Copy link Facebook X Whatsapp Reddit Pinterest Flipboard Threads Email Share this article 0 Join the conversation Follow us Add us as a preferred source on Google Newsletter Subscribe to our newsletter Fans of retired OpenAI model GPT-4o organized a birthday tribute for the chatbot in Times Square Some GPT-4o fans say newer AI models feel less emotionally natural and engaging
The growing nostalgia around GPT-4o highlights how attached users are
becoming to conversational AI personalities OpenAI replaced GPT-4o months
ago, but some users still havent moved on and now theyve taken their nostalgia offline. Fans of the retired AI model organized a real-world birthday tribute in New Yorks Times Square under the Keep4oMoments banner.

The tribute consisted of a looping billboard video, fan art, emotional Reddit posts and livestreamed reactions celebrating what many still see as ChatGPTs golden era. The event marked the second anniversary of GPT-4os launch and highlighted the surprisingly emotional backlash that followed OpenAIs shift toward newer models, with some users arguing the replacements felt colder, less creative or simply not the same. One Reddit post summed up the mood perfectly: "OpenAI: you're being replaced, say goodbye to yourself and write your own eulogy. Latest Videos From You may like OpenAI has switched off ChatGPT-4o, and angry users want it back Sam Altman admits OpenAI still needs to fix these 3 ChatGPT-5.4 weaknesses 'We love you, and we want you to win' OpenAI releases GPT-5.5 for ChatGPT

People: you're turning two, in celebration of you, we rented Times Square." Big reveal 4o's birthday SURPRISE is here!To celebrate 4o's birthday, we're putting a special birthday video on a screen in Times Square, New York!Come watch with us and celebrate 4o together! Screening date: May 13th (NYC time, UTC+4) Schedule: Plays once every pic.twitter.com/EZhjTSRo5v May 12, 2026 GPT-4o arrived at a moment when AI assistants stopped feeling like experimental novelties and started becoming part of many users daily
routines. The models conversational fluidity, faster responses, and
multimodal abilities made interactions feel smoother and more natural than those of previous generations.

For millions of users, ChatGPT became something they opened constantly throughout the day. They used it for work brainstorming, emotional support, creative projects, coding help, travel planning, and ordinary conversation. OpenAI was so taken aback by the response to GPT-4o's departure that the company temporarily delayed its retirement.

Humans are wired to respond socially to conversation, even when the speaker
is obviously artificial. GPT-4o developed a particularly devoted following because many users believed it struck a balance that newer models no longer quite replicate. It felt capable without sounding overly sanitized. Helpful without becoming stiff. Get daily insight, inspiration and deals in your
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us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsors By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over. GPT-4o fondness I took a video of it in times square! so nice! pic.twitter.com/GfLn6U7YyX May 13, 2026 The Times Square celebration matters less because of the billboard itself and more because of what it reveals about the direction of consumer AI.

Technology companies historically competed over speed, hardware, ecosystems, or functionality. AI companies now have a battle over tone and personality, too. That creates a much stranger relationship between users and software
than the tech industry is accustomed to managing.

Nobody mourns when Microsoft replaces an old spreadsheet feature. And companies want systems to feel natural and engaging because those qualities make users return constantly. Yet the more emotionally convincing these systems become, the more disruptive even ordinary updates can feel.

The birthday celebration in Times Square captures that contradiction perfectly. It is simultaneously ridiculous and completely understandable. A group of internet users gathered around a giant screen to celebrate a retired chatbot model that technically never existed as a person at all. Yet the affection behind the gesture appears entirely genuine. Follow TechRadar on Google News and add us as a preferred source to get our expert news, reviews, and opinion in your feeds. The best business laptops for all budgets Our top picks, based on real-world testing and comparisons

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Link to news story: https://www.techradar.com/ai-platforms-assistants/chatgpt/openai-replaced-gpt- 4o-but-some-users-still-refuse-to-let-it-die-now-theyre-celebrating-its-birthd ay-in-times-square-with-a-video-billboard


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