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Why Users Are Calling for the Return of GPT‑4o

Explore the growing dissatisfaction with GPT‑5.2, the demand for GPT‑4o’s quirky personality, and the shift to alternatives like Gemini and Claude.
2 February 2026 by
TechStora Editorial Board

Perceived Personality Shift

Many long‑time users describe GPT‑5.2 as “robotic, sycophantic, and humorless” compared with the “quirky, intuitive” tone of GPT‑4o. The sudden change feels like a personality transplant, prompting calls for the older model to be reinstated.

Usage Limits and Pricing

The free tier caps users at 15 messages per 24 hours, while the Plus plan costs $19.99 /month and raises the limit to 80 messages every four hours. These constraints exacerbate frustration, especially for heavy users who relied on the more generous limits of earlier versions.

Community Response

Users are taking several actions to voice their discontent:

  • Launching online petitions demanding the return of GPT‑4o.
  • Sharing side‑by‑side comparisons of prompts run in GPT‑4o and GPT‑5.2 to highlight divergences.
  • Threatening to switch to competing services such as Gemini.

Looking Beyond OpenAI

As dissatisfaction grows, many are exploring alternatives. Gemini is frequently mentioned as the preferred destination, while Anthropic’s Claude also garners interest. TechRadar encourages readers to follow its coverage on Google News, TikTok, and WhatsApp for the latest updates.