Updates OpenAI ChatGPT Upgrades to GPT-5.2 as Default Model
OpenAI makes GPT-5.2 the default ChatGPT model, retiring GPT-4o and older models. Here's what changes for users.
GPT-5.2 Is Now the Default
OpenAI has officially made GPT-5.2 the default model powering ChatGPT, replacing the previous GPT-5 Instant and Thinking variants. The update rolled out on February 13, 2026, and applies to all ChatGPT users across Free, Plus, Pro, Team, and Enterprise plans.
GPT-5.2 is described as the most capable model series yet for professional knowledge work. Key improvements include better spreadsheet creation, presentation building, code writing, image perception, long-context understanding, and complex multi-step project handling.
Retired Models
Alongside the GPT-5.2 rollout, OpenAI retired several older models from ChatGPT:
- GPT-4o — the previous generation workhorse
- GPT-4.1 and GPT-4.1 mini — intermediate updates
- OpenAI o4-mini — the compact reasoning model
- GPT-5 Instant and Thinking — the first GPT-5 generation
Existing conversations that used these models will continue to work, but new messages will default to GPT-5.2.
GPT-5.3-Codex for Developers
In parallel, OpenAI released GPT-5.3-Codex, the most capable agentic coding model to date. It combines the Codex and GPT-5 training stacks and runs approximately 25% faster than its predecessor. The model sets new benchmarks in code generation, reasoning, and general-purpose intelligence for development workflows.
Other Recent Improvements
The February update wave also includes several quality-of-life improvements:
- File uploads expanded from 10 to 20 files per message
- Deep Research received a redesigned interface with the ability to create and edit research plans, track progress mid-run, and target specific websites
- Configurable thinking levels allow users to choose between Standard, Light, and Extended reasoning depths
- Voice mode improvements for better instruction-following and tool integration
What This Means for Users
For most ChatGPT users, the upgrade is seamless — you simply get a smarter model without changing anything. GPT-5.2 is noticeably better at following complex instructions, producing accurate information, and handling multi-step tasks that previously required manual guidance.
Power users on the Pro plan also benefit from o3-pro access for maximum reasoning capability, making ChatGPT an increasingly viable tool for research, analysis, and professional knowledge work.