Yes, ChatGPT Pro users have reported experiencing automatic downgrades to the “o1-mini” model, especially when their accounts are accessed by multiple people or devices. This behavior has been observed even when the account is not shared intentionally.
Why This Happens
OpenAI’s Pro plan offers near-unlimited access to the “o1” and “o1-mini” models. However, usage limits are enforced at the individual user level. If OpenAI detects simultaneous usage from multiple devices or locations—such as a phone and a computer—it may interpret this as account sharing, leading to a temporary downgrade to the “o1-mini” model. This model has stricter usage limits and may not perform as well for complex tasks citeturn0search8.
User Experiences
Users have reported issues like:
- Inconsistent model performance across devices.
- Automatic downgrades to “o1-mini” without notification.
- Inability to process large files or complex code.
These problems often resolve when users log out of all devices and refrain from using the account for a period citeturn0search3.
Recommendations
To avoid potential downgrades:
- Limit simultaneous logins to a single device.
- Avoid accessing your account from multiple devices at the same time.
- If you need to use multiple devices, consider creating separate accounts for each user.
While it’s possible to have both a personal and professional account, managing multiple accounts may require additional effort and could lead to data fragmentation citeturn0search2.
For a visual explanation on this topic, you might find the following video helpful:
videoDon’t Pay For ChatGPT Pro? Unlimited Access To …turn0search9