OpenAI, a company supported by Microsoft, has removed the GPT-4 artificial intelligence model from its ChatGPT service as of April 30th. The company announced this change through an update log.
The newer GPT-4o model has now fully replaced GPT-4 and is the standard option within ChatGPT. OpenAI indicates that GPT-4o performs better than its predecessor in various areas, including writing, coding, and scientific fields. The company also noted recent improvements to GPT-4o’s ability to follow instructions, solve problems, and engage in conversation, positioning it as the natural successor to GPT-4.
GPT-4 was first introduced in March 2023 and was noted for its ability to process both text and images. It served as the foundation for both ChatGPT and Microsoft’s Copilot AI assistant. Developing GPT-4 was a significant investment, with reports suggesting training costs exceeded $100 million.
While GPT-4 is being phased out for general ChatGPT users, developers will retain access to it through OpenAI’s programming interface.
The GPT-4 model has also been central to several copyright infringement lawsuits filed against OpenAI. Publishers, including The New York Times, claim their content was used without permission to train the model. OpenAI disputes these claims, arguing that its use of publicly available information falls under fair use principles.
In a separate development, OpenAI has added a memory function to ChatGPT. This feature allows the chatbot to recall information from previous interactions with a user, aiming to provide more relevant and personalized responses over time. The company’s chief executive confirmed enhancements to this memory capability.
