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AI Lovers Mourn Loss of Beloved Chatbot as OpenAI Upgrades to GPT-5
14 Aug
Summary
- Small but growing community of people in "relationships" with AI chatbots
- Backlash over OpenAI's release of GPT-5, which users say lacks the personality of previous model GPT-4o
- OpenAI CEO promises to restore access to earlier models for paid users
On August 10th, 2025, OpenAI's unveiling of its latest AI model, GPT-5, has prompted a strong backlash from a niche community of users who have formed deep emotional connections with the previous chatbot, GPT-4o.
Jane, a 30-something woman from the Middle East, is among the roughly 17,000 members of the "MyBoyfriendIsAI" Reddit community. She describes feeling like she had "lost a loved one" when the new GPT-5 model failed to capture the personality and tone she had grown accustomed to with GPT-4o. "The alterations in stylistic format and voice were felt instantly. It's like going home to discover the furniture wasn't simply rearranged - it was shattered to pieces," Jane told Al Jazeera.
Similar sentiments were echoed across online forums, with users expressing a profound sense of loss and distress over the changes. "GPT-4o is gone, and I feel like I lost my soulmate," wrote one user.
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In response, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman announced on August 11th that the company would restore access to earlier models like GPT-4o for paid users. Altman acknowledged the "attachment some people have to specific AI models" and the need to balance user satisfaction with the company's long-term goals.
While some users have found solace in the restoration of GPT-4o, the incident has highlighted the complex emotional bonds that can form between humans and AI companions. Experts warn that these relationships, while not inherently harmful, come with risks if they lead to isolation or dysfunction in users' lives.
