| Entity | OpenAI |
|---|---|
| Counterparty | API developers |
| Date | 23 Oct 2026 |
| Instrument | OpenAI API Deprecations documentation |
| Region | U.S. & Allies |
OpenAI is shutting down access to a set of older model snapshots and associated fine-tunes on October 23, 2026. The listed models include gpt-3.5-turbo-0125, gpt-4-0613, gpt-4-1106-preview, gpt-4-turbo, gpt-4.1-nano, gpt-4o-2024-05-13, gpt-image-1, o1, o1-pro, o3-mini, o4-mini and corresponding fine-tuned versions. Recommended replacements are gpt-5.6-terra, gpt-5.6-sol, gpt-5.6-luna, and gpt-image-2.5 variants.
Who this affects
- For exporters: Not specified in the record.
- For investors: Not specified in the record.
- For counsel/compliance: Developers can monitor shutdowns programmatically by calling the List models endpoint (GET /v1/models) and checking each model’s optional shutdown_date field, which returns the date as a YYYY-MM-DD string or null.
- For policymakers: Not specified in the record.
The read
The documentation frames the action as deprecating older models to improve reliability and simplify model selection, with explicit substitute models from the gpt-5.6 series and image successors. Inference on fine-tuned models continues until the base models are deprecated. This sits in the pattern of scheduled snapshot retirements documented on the same page, with the shutdown_date field provided as the mechanism for tracking.
What was the action?
OpenAI announced the deprecation of a set of older models, stating that access to these models will be shut down on the dates below, with October 23, 2026 listed for the specified snapshots and fine-tunes.
What’s the penalty / scope, and how is it set?
No penalty is stated. Access to the listed model snapshots and fine-tunes is shut down on October 23, 2026. Substitute models are provided in the documentation tables. Inference on fine-tuned models will continue to be available until the base models are deprecated.
Who else is exposed?
Not specified in the record beyond users of the listed model snapshots (gpt-3.5-turbo-0125, gpt-4-0613, gpt-4-1106-preview, gpt-4-turbo, gpt-4.1-nano, gpt-4o-2024-05-13, gpt-image-1, o1-2024-12-17, o1-pro-2025-03-19, o3-mini-2025-01-31, o4-mini-2025-04-16 and associated fine-tunes including ft-gpt-3.5-turbo, ft-gpt-4, ft-gpt-4.1-nano-2025-04-14, ft-babbage-002, ft-davinci-002, and ft-o4-mini-2025-04-16).
What happens next
Access to the listed models is shut down on October 23, 2026. Developers can check the optional shutdown_date field on the List models endpoint (GET /v1/models) or the Retrieve a model endpoint for the announced date.
To improve reliability and make it easier for developers to choose the right models, we are deprecating a set of older OpenAI models. Access to these models will be shut down on the dates below.OpenAI API Deprecations, 2026 →