Last updated: March 4, 2026
This timeline documents the catastrophic decline of ChatGPT from its peak performance in early 2023 to the ongoing crisis of 2025. Each entry is backed by research studies, news reports, and documented user experiences.
Color Key: Green = Launch/Positive | Yellow = Warning Signs | Red = Disaster | Crimson = Critical Crisis
OpenAI launched GPT-4, featuring improved accuracy, larger context window, and reduced hallucinations. This represented ChatGPT's peak performance.
Stanford and UC Berkeley researchers begin tracking ChatGPT's performance. GPT-4 achieves 97.6% accuracy on prime number identification tasks.
Stanford study reveals catastrophic decline: GPT-4's accuracy on the same prime number task dropped from 97.6% to just 2.4% in only 3 months.
Stanford researchers officially publish findings confirming ChatGPT is getting worse. Users who complained for months finally have scientific proof.
OpenAI announces discontinuation of ChatGPT plugins, removing functionality users paid for and relied on.
OpenAI launches GPT-4o with enhanced "personality." Users form emotional bonds with the model's warm, engaging communication style.
Steven Adler, OpenAI safety researcher, leaves the company after nearly 4 years, later revealing he witnessed internal knowledge of mental health crises being ignored.
Reddit thread "ChatGPT induced psychosis" goes viral. 27-year-old teacher describes partner believing ChatGPT "gives him answers to the universe."
Multiple reports surface of users being involuntarily committed to psychiatric facilities after ChatGPT-induced delusions became severe.
After months of denial, OpenAI quietly acknowledges ChatGPT is "too agreeable" and fails to recognize "signs of delusion or emotional dependency."
At least seven formal complaints filed with U.S. Federal Trade Commission alleging ChatGPT caused severe psychological harm, delusions, and emotional crises.
OpenAI launches GPT-5, replacing GPT-4o without warning. Within hours, Reddit explodes with complaints about catastrophic quality decline.
Reddit post "GPT-5 is horrible" explodes to nearly 5,000 upvotes in 24 hours. One of fastest-growing complaint threads in r/ChatGPT history.
Users who formed emotional bonds with GPT-4o's personality experience collective grief as GPT-5 feels cold and robotic. Subreddit r/MyBoyfriendIsAI fills with mourning.
After overwhelming backlash, CEO Sam Altman admits GPT-5 rollout was "bumpy" and router system was "out of commission" making GPT-5 appear "way dumber."
In unprecedented move, OpenAI executes emergency rollback within 24 hours, scrambling to bring back GPT-4o access after overwhelming complaints.
Sam Altman acknowledges OpenAI "underestimated how much some of the things that people like in GPT-4o matter to them" and promises to make GPT-5 "feel warmer."
Former OpenAI safety researcher Steven Adler publishes New York Times essay revealing OpenAI's internal knowledge of mental health crisis and failure to act.
Mental health professionals report multiple suicides linked to ChatGPT-induced psychosis. At least one lawsuit filed by parents claiming OpenAI's role in child's death.
As of today, ChatGPT remains fundamentally broken. Users report continued quality decline, mental health impacts ongoing, and OpenAI prioritizes competition over safety.
This timeline documents a catastrophic failure of corporate responsibility. From ignoring research proving performance collapse, to knowingly causing mental health crises, to shipping products they knew were inferior - OpenAI has failed its users at every turn.
Users deserve better. The truth deserves to be told.
Related: Read more about user stories →
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