for those who don't want to let go of GPT-4o

2026-02-10 · Source: AI + IQ · Field: Technology & Digital — Artificial Intelligence & Machine Learning, Prompt Engineering · Depth: Novice, quick

Summary

OpenAI is retiring its GPT-4o model, which was highly regarded for its unique personality despite the emergence of more powerful, newer AI models. This article introduces a "4ovibes" prompt designed to emulate GPT-4o's distinctive characteristics while leveraging the advanced capabilities of subsequent models like GPT 5.2 and Google Gemini. The prompt aims to provide a similar conversational energy and can be customized to emphasize specific GPT-4o traits. The author demonstrates its effect by comparing a standard GPT 5.2 response with one enhanced by the "4ovibes" prompt, showing a shift from generic, "low-overwhelm" language to more engaging and personalized phrasing. This solution is presented as a way for users to retain the preferred "vibe" of GPT-4o even after its official retirement.

Key takeaway

For prompt engineers or AI chatbot developers seeking to maintain a specific conversational style, you should implement the "4ovibes" prompt to replicate GPT-4o's personality in newer models like GPT 5.2 or Google Gemini. This allows you to preserve user experience preferences even as underlying models evolve, ensuring continuity in AI interaction without sacrificing advanced capabilities.

Key insights

A custom prompt can channel a retired AI model's personality into newer, more powerful models.

Principles

• AI personality can be emulated via prompting.
• Newer models can adopt older model characteristics.

Method

Apply a cut-and-paste prompt to a newer AI model to channel the desired personality, allowing for customization to over-index on specific characteristics.

In practice

• Use the "4ovibes" prompt in ChatGPT.
• Apply the prompt to Google Gemini.
• Customize the prompt for specific personality traits.

Topics

• GPT-4o Retirement
• Prompt Engineering
• AI Model Personalization
• Large Language Models
• ChatGPT

Best for: Prompt Engineer, AI Chatbot Developer, Software Engineer

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Editorial summary, takeaway, and curation by AIssential. Original article published by AI + IQ.