OpenAI has rolled back a key feature in ChatGPT that automatically directed users to more advanced AI models. Free and $5-a-month Go tier users will now default to GPT-5.2 Instant, the fastest version of OpenAI’s model series.
Maxwell Zeff reports for Wired that the change affects hundreds of millions of users. The model router, launched just four months ago, analyzed questions and selected either fast or slower reasoning models to provide answers. Free users can still access reasoning models, but must now select them manually.
The reversal follows poor user reception. One source tells Wired that the router negatively affected daily active users. While reasoning models deliver better answers, they can take minutes to respond at significantly higher computational cost. Most consumers prefer speed over accuracy.
“If somebody types something, and then you have to show thinking dots for 20 seconds, it’s just not very engaging,” Chris Clark, chief operating officer of AI provider OpenRouter, tells Wired. He notes that consumer chatbots compete with Google Search, which prioritizes speed.
An OpenAI spokesperson says user feedback showed Free and Go users preferred the default chat experience with manual model selection. Paid subscribers on Plus and Pro tiers retain the automatic routing feature.
The decision comes as OpenAI faces mounting competition, particularly from Google Gemini. CEO Sam Altman recently declared a company-wide “code red” to improve ChatGPT. Third-party data from SimilarWeb shows ChatGPT’s growth has flattened while Gemini gains ground.
