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OpenAI is once again making GPT-4o \u2014 the large language model (LLM) that powered ChatGPT before last week\u2019s launch of GPT-5 \u2014 a default option for all paying users, that is, those who subscribe to the ChatGPT Plus ($20 per month), Pro ($200 per month), Team ($30 per month), Enterprise, or Edu tiers, no longer requiring users to toggle on a \u201cshow legacy models\u201d setting to access it.<\/strong> <\/p>\n\n\n\n
However, paying ChatGPT subscribers will also get a new \u201cShow additional models\u201d setting on by default that restores access to GPT-4.1, o3 and o4-mini, the latter two reasoning-focused LLMs. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
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OpenAI CEO and co-founder Sam Altman announced the change on X just minutes ago, pledging that if the company ever removes GPT-4o in the future, it will give \u201cplenty of notice.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
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Updates to ChatGPT:<\/p>
You can now choose between \u201cAuto\u201d, \u201cFast\u201d, and \u201cThinking\u201d for GPT-5. Most users will want Auto, but the additional control will be useful for some people.<\/p>
Rate limits are now 3,000 messages\/week with GPT-5 Thinking, and then extra capacity on GPT-5 Thinking\u2026<\/p>\u2014 Sam Altman (@sama) August 13, 2025<\/a><\/blockquote>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
The models can be found in the \u201cpicker\u201d menu at the top of the ChatGPT session screen on the web and on mobile and other apps.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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The reversal follows a turbulent first week for GPT-5, which rolled out August 7 in four variants \u2014 regular, mini, nano, and pro \u2014 with optional \u201cthinking\u201d modes on several of these for longer, more reasoning-intensive tasks. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
As VentureBeat previously reported, GPT-5\u2019s debut was met with mixed reviews and infrastructure hiccups, including a broken \u201cautoswitcher\u201d that routed prompts incorrectly, inconsistent performance compared to GPT-4o, and user frustration over the sudden removal of older models.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Altman\u2019s latest update adds new controls to the ChatGPT interface: users can now choose between \u201cAuto,\u201d \u201cFast,\u201d and \u201cThinking\u201d modes for GPT-5. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The \u201cThinking\u201d mode \u2014 with a 196,000-token context window \u2014 now carries a 3,000 messages-per-week cap<\/strong> for paying subscribers, after which they can continue using the lighter \u201cGPT-5 Thinking mini\u201d mode. Altman noted the limits could change depending on usage trends.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
However, GPT-4.5 remains exclusive to Pro users due to its high GPU cost.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Altman also hinted at another change on the horizon: a personality tweak for GPT-5 intended to feel \u201cwarmer\u201d than the current default, but less polarizing than GPT-4o\u2019s tone. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The company is exploring per-user customization as a long-term solution \u2014 a move that could address the strong emotional attachments some users have formed with specific models.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For now, the changes should help placate users who felt frustrated by the sudden shift to GPT-5 and deprecation of OpenAI\u2019s older LLMs, though it could also continue to fuel the intense emotional fixations some users developed with these models.<\/p>\n
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