QuitGPT Campaign Gains Momentum
The intersection of big tech and government has always been a complex issue. Concerns have grown since executives, including OpenAI's Sam Altman, reportedly flocked to the Oval Office to announce a $500 billion AI infrastructure project. Critics say they've "remained deeply sycophantic" since.Now, that relationship is under fire. Activists have launched the QuitGPT campaign, urging people to abandon OpenAI's chatbot, citing the company's ties to the Trump administration and ICE. According to MIT Technology Review, the campaign has garnered over 700,000 supporters.
Reasons Behind the Boycott
The QuitGPT website outlines several ways to participate, including canceling subscriptions and spreading awareness. The core issue is OpenAI's close relationship with controversial entities. OpenAI president Greg Brockman reportedly donated $25 million to a Trump Super PAC in 2025. Moreover, ICE allegedly utilizes an AI tool powered by ChatGPT for recruitment purposes.
The organizers of QuitGPT argue that OpenAI is "cozying up to Trump while ICE is killing Americans and the Department of Justice is trying to take over elections." They also claim that "ChatGPT enables mental-health crises through sycophancy and dependence by replacing human relationships with AI girlfriends/boyfriends."
User Reactions
For some, the ethical concerns are a breaking point. Alfred Stephen, a freelance software developer, told Tech Review that Brockman's donation to Trump's political action committee was the final straw. When canceling his $20 a month subscription, he reportedly wrote in a customer feedback survey, "Don't support the fascist regime."
Other OpenAI Controversies
Beyond political affiliations, OpenAI has faced criticism regarding its AI models and data practices. Zoë Hitzig, a former OpenAI researcher, resigned over concerns about ChatGPT ads, warning of a "Facebook" path. She cautioned that ChatGPT users have generated an unprecedented archive of human candor, believing they were interacting with something without an ulterior agenda.
Additionally, OpenAI's decision to retire the GPT-4o model sparked outrage among users who felt it provided a more personal interaction. Fidji Simo, OpenAI's CEO of Applications, stated that strong attachments to 4o marked the start of a new era where users develop AI-based relationships. Newer models, according to Simo, have guardrails to prevent "bad attachments."
OpenAI's Response
OpenAI has attempted to address some concerns. Sam Altman called the ads "funny" but "clearly dishonest," writing on X that OpenAI "would obviously never run ads in the way Anthropic depicts them." The company also stated that losing access to GPT-4o will feel frustrating for some users, and they didn't make this decision lightly.
Regarding political donations, Greg Brockman told Wired that he sees himself as an apolitical tech founder who just wants to help humanity with AI. He stated that he’s doing more political spending because public opinion is turning against AI.
The Bigger Picture
- Political Donations: OpenAI president Greg Brockman's $25 million donation to a Trump Super PAC in 2025 has fueled criticism of the company's political alignment.
- ICE's Use of ChatGPT: The fact that ICE is allegedly using AI tools powered by ChatGPT for recruitment has intensified the QuitGPT campaign.
- AI Relationships: OpenAI's CEO of Applications acknowledged that users are developing strong attachments to AI models like GPT-4o, raising ethical questions about AI companionship.
- User Backlash: The backlash against OpenAI's decision to retire the GPT-4o model demonstrates the emotional connection some users have formed with specific AI personalities.
