Versions expire. The habit of asking doesn't.

ChatGPT's GPT-4.5 option quietly disappeared late June. No countdown notice. No "save your settings before it's gone." One day you just open the menu and the version you'd gotten used to isn't there anymore. GPT-4 launched in early 2023. By June 2026, the whole line was retired. Three years — long enough to build a generation of habits, then gone. Claude went from 2 to 4. ChatGPT ran from 3.5 to 4o to 4.5. A new version announces it's smarter every few months, while an old one quietly exits. This cycle isn't stopping. There's a plumber who started learning AI 77 days ago. He describes it like logging into an online game after work — not trying to master it, just figuring out what move works today. He treats token limits like hit points in a game: when they run out, he waits for tomorrow's reset. No panic. The day he finally understood one feature, it felt like learning a game mechanic — not because the feature was impressive, but because he'd found his own way to play. He's never felt like he's "finished learning." His only daily question: Is there an AI that can help me do today's thing a little better than yesterday? That question works whether GPT-4 is around or not. GPT-4 is gone. The habit of asking — it isn't.