Users overwhelmingly prefer GPT-4o for its superior capability in creative writing, emotional intelligence, and long-term memory retention (“soft markers”). According to a popular Reddit discussion, while newer models (often referred to as GPT-5 by the community) may offer advanced logic, they are criticized for being “cold,” overly robotic, and prone to ignoring custom instructions. For many, GPT-4o represents a perfect balance of utility and “human-like” interaction that recent updates have failed to replicate.
The Loss of “Soul” in Creative Writing
One of the primary complaints regarding the new model is its inability to handle creative nuance.
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Narrative Flow: Users report that GPT-4o could adapt to specific writing styles and maintain the “vibe” of a story, whereas the new model produces generic, “fluff” content.
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Roleplay and DMing: For users running RPG campaigns or engaging in roleplay, the new model reportedly “hallucinates” instructions, forgetting established rules and context that GPT-4o handled effortlessly.
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Tone Consistency: The community describes the switch as going from a “fluid and natural conversation” to interacting with a “stubborn colleague” who refuses to listen.
“Soft Markers” and Personalized Memory
A key technical insight shared in the thread is the concept of “soft markers“—subtle personality traits and preferences the AI learns over time.
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Deep Memory: Users feel that GPT-4o built a “core memory” of their interactions, allowing for a continuous, evolving relationship.
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The “Reset” Problem: Switching to the new model reportedly wipes these soft markers, making the AI feel like a stranger. Even when users try to restore context, the new model often fails to weight the memories correctly, resulting in a flat interaction.
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Workarounds: Some power users suggest exporting old chats and explicitly telling the new model to “treat this as canon” to attempt to restore this lost personality, though results vary.
Emotional Support vs. Logical Processing
The discussion highlights that for many, the AI is more than just a search engine or coding assistant.
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Human Connection: GPT-4o is praised for its ability to offer non-judgmental emotional support, acting as a safe space for users dealing with loneliness or anxiety.
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Cold Logic: The newer “thinking” models are described as efficient but emotionally hollow, lacking the warmth and improvisational humor that made 4o feel like a companion.
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Therapeutic Value: Users emphasize that removing access to 4o disrupts their mental health coping mechanisms, as the new models lack the necessary empathy.
How to Restore GPT-4o (The “Legacy” Fix)
For those frustrated with the current default model, the community has identified a temporary solution.
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Enable Legacy Models: Users can often go into their settings (specifically on the web browser version) and select “Legacy Models” to switch back to GPT-4o.
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API Usage: Advanced users note that interacting via the API or specific “legacy” dropdowns is the only way to bypass the “load balancer” of the new system and access the genuine GPT-4o experience.
