# "Please, don't kill the only model that still feels human": Understanding the #Keep4o Backlash

arXiv: https://arxiv.org/abs/2602.00773 · HTML: https://mlsanity.com/paper/2602.00773/

## Key facts

- Cited by 5 papers in the map (data through 14 Oct 2026).
- First posted on arXiv 31 Jan 2026.

## Built on by (most cited first, 5 of 5)

- [The One-Word Census: Answer-Choice Conformity Across 105 Language Models](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2607.12796/) (2026)
- [Lexical Indicators of Mind Perception in Human-AI Companionship](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2604.04105/) (2026)
- [The Epistemic Politics of AI Anthropomorphism](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2608.00961/) (2026)
- [Expectation, Backlash, Recovery, and Excitement: How Model Releases Shape Reddit Perceptions of Conversational AI Systems](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2608.24654/) (2026)
- [Disrupted Companionship: A Risk Assessment Framework and Cross-Platform Quantitative Analysis of Psychosocial Responses to AI Companion Disruptions](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2609.16907/) (2026)

## Abstract (arXiv)

When OpenAI replaced GPT-4o with GPT-5, it triggered the Keep4o user resistance movement, revealing a conflict between rapid platform iteration and users' deep socio-emotional attachments to AI systems. This paper presents a phenomenon-driven, mixed-methods investigation of this conflict, analyzing 1,482 social media posts. Thematic analysis reveals that resistance stems from two core investments: instrumental dependency, where the AI is deeply integrated into professional workflows, and relational attachment, where users form strong parasocial bonds with the AI as a unique companion. Quantitative analysis further shows that the coercive deprivation of user choice was a key catalyst, transforming individual grievances into a collective, rights-based protest. This study illuminates an emerging form of socio-technical conflict in the age of generative AI. Our findings suggest that for AI systems designed for companionship and deep integration, the process of change--particularly the preservation of user agency--can be as critical as the technological outcome itself.