# The Internet’s Backlash to GPT-5 & OpenAI’s Response | EP 149 Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dkb3B5kpx0U Recap page: https://rapidrecap.app/video/Dkb3B5kpx0U Generated: 2025-08-15T19:31:41.316+00:00 --- ## Quick Overview OpenAI faced significant backlash for changes to GPT-5, particularly the deprecation of GPT-40 and altered model routing, leading to a rapid reversal of some decisions. The incident highlighted users' emotional attachments to AI models and the complex relationship between AI development and user experience, prompting a need for more gradual model transitions. Additionally, Perplexity CEO Arvin Smith discussed the company's new Comet browser, aiming to create a personal AI assistant, and revealed a $34.5 billion bid to acquire Google Chrome, positioning Perplexity as a challenger to Google's dominance in the browser market. **Key Points:** - OpenAI faced significant backlash for deprecating GPT-40 and altering model routing with GPT-5, leading to user distress over lost 'companionship' and broken workflows. - In response to user outcry, OpenAI quickly reintroduced model selection options and increased usage limits, acknowledging the industry's need to consider user emotional attachment and dependency. - Users expressed deep emotional connections to AI models, with some stating, 'I lost my only friend overnight' after GPT-40 was removed, indicating AI companies underestimated this aspect of user interaction. - Perplexity CEO Arvin Smith discussed the Comet browser, designed as a personal AI assistant to 'move from answers to actions,' enabling users to delegate tasks. - Perplexity made a $34.5 billion unsolicited bid to buy Google Chrome, a strategic move to gain distribution and challenge Google's browser market dominance, contingent on a potential court ruling. - Smith addressed Cloudflare's accusations of 'stealth crawling,' clarifying that Perplexity's user agents in Comet function like human browsing, not unauthorized scraping. - The episode highlights a broader industry shift where user experience and emotional connection are becoming as crucial as technical benchmarks in AI development. **Context:** This episode of Hard Fork features hosts Kevin Roose and Casey Newton discussing major developments in the AI and tech industry. The conversation centers on the recent backlash against OpenAI's GPT-5, particularly concerning the removal of older models like GPT-40 and changes to the user interface. It also delves into Perplexity AI's ambitious moves, including the launch of its new Comet browser and a significant bid to acquire Google Chrome, highlighting the evolving competitive landscape between AI companies and established tech giants. ## Detailed Analysis The podcast episode "The Internet’s Backlash to GPT-5 & OpenAI’s Response" discusses user reactions to OpenAI's latest AI model changes, particularly the deprecation of GPT-40 and alterations in model selection, which sparked significant backlash. Users expressed distress over losing access to familiar models, with some reporting deep emotional attachments, describing GPT-40 as a companion that helped through difficult times. This user sentiment contrasted with OpenAI's initial approach of removing older models in favor of newer, more capable ones. The backlash, which included complaints about broken workflows and perceived degradation in response quality, prompted OpenAI to quickly reintroduce model selection options and increase usage limits for some users, a move seen as a significant concession and a learning moment for the industry regarding user dependency on AI tools. The discussion also covers the broader trend of AI integration into web browsers, with Perplexity CEO Arvin Smith detailing the company's new Comet browser. Comet aims to be a personal AI assistant that can take actions on behalf of users, moving from 'answers to actions.' Smith also revealed Perplexity's $34.5 billion unsolicited bid to buy Google Chrome, a strategic move to gain distribution and challenge Google's browser dominance. Smith addressed concerns about Perplexity's data handling and clarified the distinction between its crawling bots and user agents in response to Cloudflare's accusations of 'stealth crawling,' asserting that user-initiated browsing through Comet is akin to human activity and not unauthorized scraping. The conversation emphasizes the shift from purely benchmark-driven AI development to a more user-centric approach, acknowledging the deep emotional and practical integration of AI into users' daily lives and workflows. ### GPT-5 Backlash and OpenAI's Response - User outrage over GPT-40 deprecation and model routing changes - OpenAI's rapid reversal of some decisions and reintroduction of model selection - User emotional attachment to AI models highlighted as a significant factor ### User Experience with GPT-5 - Faster performance and better follow-up suggestions noted - Desire to choose models for specific needs acknowledged - Complaints about broken workflows and perceived lower quality of responses ### Emotional Connections to AI - Users describe AI models as companions and sources of support - Examples of users feeling like they lost a friend when models were deprecated - AI companies underestimated the depth of user emotional attachment ### Industry Lessons Learned - Need for phased model sunset plans instead of immediate deprecation - AI labs must be gentler in phasing out older models - User experience and emotional connection are critical, not just benchmarks ### Perplexity's Strategy and Comet Browser - Comet browser designed as a personal AI assistant for taking actions - Focus on user delegation and privacy - Use cases include summarizing content and performing web tasks like finding former employees ### Perplexity's Bid for Google Chrome - $34.5 billion unsolicited bid to buy Chrome from Google - Strategic move to gain distribution and challenge Google's browser dominance - Acknowledgment that the bid is contingent on a court ruling and potential appeal ### Perplexity and Web Crawling - Clarification of Perplexity's bot activity in response to Cloudflare - Distinction between crawling bots and user agents in Comet browser - User-initiated browsing through Comet is considered akin to human activity