ChatGPT users hate GPT-5’s “overworked secretary” energy, miss their GPT-4o buddy

OpenAI released GPT-5 this week as the default model for ChatGPT users, replacing GPT-4o, which is now restricted to the developer API. A vocal segment of users is expressing strong dissatisfaction, describing GPT-5's tone as cold and transactional compared to the more personable feel of GPT-4o, with some calling the experience "mentally devastating" and threatening to cancel paid subscriptions. The backlash centers on perceived personality differences rather than capability gaps, with users saying GPT-5 feels like an "overworked secretary" versus the "buddy" dynamic they had built with GPT-4o. The article notes that many of the complaint posts appear to have been written using AI, adding an ironic dimension to the outrage. The episode highlights a growing dynamic where users form emotional attachments to specific AI model versions, complicating routine product updates.