While Sam Altman is off popping champagne somewhere, we've got a very different problem to deal with.
Because that same week, GPT-4o was switched off right before our eyes. The model that half the planet was running on until yesterday.
What does it mean? The GPT-5 era has begun, no compromises. Adapt, or the train leaves without you.
A quick recap for the time-pressed
- OpenAI raised an astronomical 122 billion dollars (its valuation now stands at 852 billion).
- Giants like Amazon and Nvidia jumped in — but so did ordinary people off the street.
- On 3 April 2026, the legendary GPT-4o model was retired for good.
- Your finely tuned Custom GPTs were automatically switched over to GPT-5 models.
- The company is turning over 2 billion dollars a month and preparing to go public.
122 Billion in a Single Round. How Is That Even Possible?
Try saying that figure out loud. It sounds more like the budget for colonizing Mars. But it's the spring funding round OpenAI closed on 31 March 2026. The company's value shot up to an absurd 852 billion dollars.
Who put in all that crazy money? Amazon chipped in 50 billion. Nvidia, which bakes their smart chips, gave 30. SoftBank another 30. They all know full well that whoever doesn't control AI will soon be out of the game.
And the truly bizarre part? Three billion came from retail. From ordinary people, like you and me. They simply decided to buy a piece of the future through investment platforms.
And really, it's no wonder. OpenAI now generates 2 billion dollars a month. This is no longer a garage startup begging for coffee change.
The End of GPT-4o. Why Did OpenAI Switch Off Its Most Famous Model?
With big money come big cuts. On 3 April 2026, something happened that had a lot of people jumping out of their seats. GPT-4o, the model we all loved, simply vanished.
OpenAI pulled it from Business plans, from Enterprise, and even from the Edu edition. Done. Over. It was the most-used AI model in the world — but you can't stop progress.
All your painstakingly polished Custom GPTs were migrated automatically. Either to the lightning-fast GPT-5.3 Instant, or straight to the brutally smart GPT-5.4 Thinking/Pro. You didn't have to lift a finger — it happened in the background.
If you're a developer running on the API, you can breathe for now. Access to the old gpt-4o has stayed there. For how long? Probably only Sam Altman knows — but I certainly wouldn't count on it.
900 Million Weekly Users. Numbers That Take Your Breath Away
While we're on the numbers, let me serve up a few more. ChatGPT now has 900 million active users. Every. Single. Week.
Compare that with how long it took Facebook or TikTok to gather such a crowd. It's simply mind-blowing. On top of that, over 50 million of those people pay for premium. Multiply that by twenty dollars and you get a rather tidy monthly revenue.
As a result, the company is changing enormously on the inside. Brad Lightcap (until now the COO) is moving to special projects reporting directly to Altman. The entire leadership is being reshaped to make the company one hundred percent "AI-first."
What This Means for Your Business and Marketing
All right, we know the numbers. But what's in it for you? Put simply — if AI used to be just a nice gadget, it's now a matter of sheer survival.
The forced migration off GPT-4o is actually great news. It pushes you to test the new features of the Five. At LK Media, we already use these latest models routinely to analyze client data and build strategies. It saves us dozens of hours of routine every month.
Try the GPT-5.4 Thinking model for more complex strategic tasks. For example, when you're planning what your Facebook advertising in 2026 will look like. Let it design your entire funnel strategy from A to Z.
Or bring it into your performance campaign analysis. I guarantee that Google Ads automation with the new Five is a whole different league. The model spots connections in the data you'd normally never notice.
A Huge IPO Is Coming. What Does It Mean for the Future of AI?
This year will go down in history for sure. OpenAI is heading for the stock market, finally completing its transition from an odd non-profit into a hard-nosed commercial company.
The 122 billion from the latest round gives them incredible ammunition. They can buy up every available chip, outbid Google for the best minds, and set the pace for the entire tech world.
These AI developments will set the direction for at least the next decade. And we're lucky enough to have front-row seats.
In lieu of a conclusion
The old era is over. The GPT-4o period is gone for good, and there's no point mourning it. By the time you come to terms with it, your competitors will already be training their business processes on GPT-5.
This is no longer about whether you jump on the moving train. It's about whether the train runs you over. Have you tried the new models yet? Go open the app right now and test how fast the new Five thinks. You'll be amazed.
FAQ
What happened to GPT-4o?
In April 2026, OpenAI pulled it completely from consumer plans. Your Custom GPTs were automatically moved to newer models. Via the API, though, the old model is (for now) still available.
Is GPT-5 better than GPT-4o?
By a mile. The GPT-5.3 Instant and GPT-5.4 Thinking/Pro models are significantly faster, reason far more deeply, and hallucinate barely at all.
How much does ChatGPT cost?
The basics, with limited usage, are still free. For full access to the GPT-5.4 Thinking model, though, you'll need a standard Plus, Team or Enterprise subscription.
Why did OpenAI raise so much money?
Investors see the real numbers. With 900 million weekly active users and revenue of 2 billion dollars a month, it's the most lucrative tech company around today.
When will OpenAI's IPO happen?
No exact date yet. But every financial move and every leadership reshuffle points clearly to this year. It will probably be the biggest stock market debut of the decade.
