OpenAI faces "QuitGPT" campaign urging subscription cancellations
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A "QuitGPT" campaign is urging users to cancel their ChatGPT subscriptions, Discord Manual Input reports. The movement is a backlash against OpenAI's ties to the Trump administration. It follows user frustrations with the AI's performance.
Quick Summary
- •A "QuitGPT" campaign is urging users to cancel their ChatGPT subscriptions, Discord Manual Input reports. The movement is a backlash against OpenAI's ties to the Trump administration. It follows user frustrations with the AI's performance.
- •Key company: OpenAI
The campaign cites a substantial contribution by OpenAI President Greg Brockman to a super PAC supporting former President Donald Trump, according to MIT Technology Review. It also highlights the use of OpenAI's technology by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
The federal agency has become a significant political flashpoint. ICE agents fatally shot two people in Minneapolis in January, the report states.
For some users, these ties were a final catalyst for cancellation. Freelance developer Alfred Stephen canceled his subscription after learning of Brockman's donation.
Stephen told MIT Technology Review that supporting a "fascist regime" was his reason for quitting. He had also grown frustrated with the AI's performance.
User discontent extends beyond political concerns. Many users have lamented the performance of OpenAI's latest model, GPT-5.2, on Reddit.
Others have shared memes parodying the chatbot's perceived sycophancy. Some are planning a "Mass Cancellation Party" in San Francisco.
The QuitGPT campaign is organized by dozens of left-leaning activists across the U.S. The group includes pro-democracy and climate organizers, according to the report.
They were inspired by a viral video from a creator named Scott Gallow. The campaign launched in late January.
The campaign's reach appears significant. A recent Instagram post from QuitGPT has more than 36 million views, MIT Technology Review reports.
The campaign's website claims more than 17,000 people have signed up. Participants pledge to cancel subscriptions or stop using ChatGPT.
It is unclear how many subscriptions have actually been canceled. ChatGPT had nearly 900 million weekly active users as of December 2025, according to The Information.
Sociologist Dana Fisher says such campaigns rarely sway corporate behavior. She noted they require a critical mass of users to be effective.
OpenAI did not respond to a request for comment from MIT Technology Review. Three employees at the company said they were unfamiliar with the campaign.
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This article was created using AI technology and reviewed by the SectorHQ editorial team for accuracy and quality.