OpenAI trims ChatGPT models
OpenAI pared down the ChatGPT consumer surface by retiring several named models while keeping API access and enterprise compatibility intact. The company said GPT-4o, GPT-4.1, GPT-4.1 mini, o4-mini and GPT-5 (Instant and Thinking) were removed from ChatGPT’s visible options but remain usable for Business, Enterprise and Edu customers via Custom GPTs and projects (help.openai.com).
OpenAI cut several older model names from ChatGPT’s consumer interface on February 13, 2026, while leaving application programming interface access in place. (help.openai.com) The removed options include GPT-4o, GPT-4.1, GPT-4.1 mini, OpenAI o4-mini, and GPT-5 Instant and GPT-5 Thinking, according to OpenAI help pages updated in April 2026. (help.openai.com) OpenAI said paid ChatGPT users now see a simpler picker centered on newer defaults such as GPT-5 and GPT-5 Thinking, with release notes saying Plus, Pro, and Team users can manually select those models. (help.openai.com) The change separates ChatGPT, which is the consumer app interface, from the application programming interface, which is the developer service that lets companies call specific models directly from their own software. OpenAI said there were “no changes at this time” to the application programming interface when the ChatGPT retirements took effect. (openai.com) OpenAI also kept a transition path for workplace customers. Help articles for ChatGPT Business, Enterprise, and Edu said those customers could still use GPT-4o in Custom GPTs until April 3, 2026, even after the public ChatGPT picker changed. (help.openai.com) For Enterprise and Edu administrators, OpenAI framed the shift as a move to “newest models for a faster, more capable ChatGPT experience,” while offering temporary legacy access for teams updating workflows and internal tools. (help.openai.com) The company acknowledged some users would miss GPT-4o’s style. In its retirement post, OpenAI said removing older models lets it “focus on improving the models most people use today.” (openai.com) The cleanup fits a broader pattern in ChatGPT’s recent updates: OpenAI has added newer variants such as GPT-5.3 and GPT-5.4 to the product while reducing the number of older names exposed in the main interface. (help.openai.com) For everyday ChatGPT users, the practical change is simple: fewer model names in the app, newer defaults at the top, and older models pushed into application programming interface use or limited business transition tools instead of the main picker. (help.openai.com)
