The missing field is the surface.
Users report “worse” through fast replies, lost files, failed tools, interruptions, and context errors. OpenAI’s own release note says Chat and Work/Codex did not share the same Sol update. Compare the surface before comparing the model.
Three current leads
Same label, different surface
A detailed thread describes shallow or fast regular-Chat behavior, file/tool failures, and better Work outcomes for similar tasks. Later replies report both persistence and recovery. Replay it with receipts.
Paid does not mean fully observable
OpenAI Support says model or feature access can be temporarily limited based on account activity even on paid plans. That explains an access lane; it does not identify a fallback or prove a quality change.
Alerts need an age stamp
AI Drift Detector’s visible board shows 30 models, 28 alerts, and two warnings, but its latest snapshot is dated 13 September. A reader needs snapshot age before acting.
What to capture
- Fixed task, surface, requested and served model, route, plan, account or workspace state, and time.
- Context, tools, configuration version, judge or harness, coverage, and availability.
- Session continuity: interruption, rollback, forgotten work, stop state, correction burden, and final artifact.
- Control result, allowance movement, switching reason, and post-action outcome.