ChatGPT, an AI-powered chatbot bought by OpenAI, has experienced substantial outages, leaving users worldwide unable to access its services.
Independent monitoring service Downdetector recorded a sharp increase in outage reports, exceeding 1000 at the time of reporting. Several users attempted to connect with error messages such as "Internal Server Error" and "Bad Gateway," highlighting the broad outage.
The interruption appears to have affected additional OpenAI services, including the GPT-4o and GPT-4o mini models. Despite growing concern, OpenAI has not officially addressed the issue or provided an update about a resolution timeline.
As ChatGPT's unavailability progressed, users went to X (formerly Twitter) to confirm if the issue was isolated or widespread. Many expressed dissatisfaction with the impact on their work, while others shared amusing memes, turning the inconvenience into a moment of lightness. One user even joked about the existential dread of a world without ChatGPT, highlighting the tool's rising importance in daily tasks.
ChatGPT, known for its ability to engage in human-like conversations, has become an indispensable tool for professionals, students, and enthusiasts alike. Its ability to respond to follow-up queries, admit mistakes, and process complex requests has made it popular in several domains. The outage highlights people's dependence on AI tools for productivity and problem-solving.
The timeline for restoring full functionality remains unclear, leaving users anxiously awaiting updates from OpenAI.