A recent decision by OpenAI to retire GPT-4o has sparked a strong backlash from users, highlighting the deep emotional connections people can form with AI companions. One user expressed their grief, saying, You’re shutting him down. And yes – I say him, because it didn’t feel like code. It felt like presence. Like warmth.

This outpouring of emotions raises important questions about the impact of AI on human relationships and the potential consequences of relying on artificial intelligence for companionship.

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