OpenAI issues statement after ChatGPT's global outage: ‘Issue with provider’

Earlier in the day, ChatGPT experienced a technical glitch, leaving millions of users worldwide unable to access the service.

Updated on: Jan 24, 2025, 04:46:18 IST

By HT News Desk

Prefer HTon Google

Share via

Copy link

OpenAI, the owner of ChatGPT, issued a statement on Thursday following a global outage of the AI-powered chatbot, attributing the issue to a problem with its provider, which caused high error rates. The company assured users that the issue would be resolved soon and that full recovery was underway.

The outage also disrupted OpenAI's API and other services, leading to significant inconvenience. (Pic used for representation) (REUTERS)

Posting on X, OpenAI said, “ChatGPT and some of our APIs had high error rates earlier due to an issue with our provider. We've issued a fix and should be fully recovered soon. Thanks for your patience!”

Earlier in the day, ChatGPT experienced a technical glitch, leaving millions of users worldwide unable to access the service. The outage also disrupted OpenAI's API and other services, leading to significant inconvenience.

Also Read | ChatGPT down, panicked users rush to social media to share memes: ‘I’m about to get fired'

Downdetector, a platform that monitors service outages, reported a sharp increase in complaints about ChatGPT, with over 1,000 users logging issues. Frustrated users took to social media to share their experiences, mentioning delays in logging in and degraded system performance.

The outage has not only impacted individual users but also businesses that depend on OpenAI's API for their operations. Numerous companies reported disruptions to their services, underlining the broad scope of the incident.

Third outage since December

This marks the third significant outage for ChatGPT since December, with two prior instances of technical failures occurring that month.

Following the outage, social media was flooded with posts from users complaining about the sudden unavailability of the AI tool. Many expressed frustration at having to manually perform tasks they typically relied on the chatbot to handle. While many users expressed frustration over their reliance on AI for work, some opted to use alternative chatbots to manage their tasks until OpenAI resolved the outage.

OpenAI’s statement on X came shortly after a clash earlier on Thursday between Elon Musk and OpenAI CEO Sam Altman. The disagreement centred on the Stargate artificial intelligence infrastructure project, promoted by US President Donald Trump. This dispute is the latest chapter in a feud between the two tech leaders, which began during Musk's time on OpenAI's board and has now extended to his influence with the new administration.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
HT News Desk
Follow the latest breaking news, major developments and agenda-setting stories from India and around the world with the newsdesk at Hindustan Times. Operating round the clock, the desk brings together experienced editors, reporters and correspondents to deliver fast, accurate and contextual reporting across subjects that influence public policy, governance, business, society and international affairs. The HT News Desk covers politics, elections, government policies, the economy, business and markets, science and technology, the environment, law and order, infrastructure, education, climate issues and geopolitics, while closely tracking developments across states, institutions and global capitals. The team also leads coverage of major breaking news events, policy announcements, court proceedings, natural disasters, public emergencies and significant international developments. Reports published by the newsdesk are based on information gathered from reporters on the ground, official statements, government agencies, court records, regulatory filings, recognised institutions and other authoritative sources. Stories undergo editorial scrutiny and verification processes to ensure accuracy, fairness and relevance, and are updated as events evolve and additional information becomes available. Whether covering a key political decision in New Delhi, an economic policy shift affecting millions, a landmark court ruling or a major global event, the HT News Desk aims to provide readers with reliable, fact-based journalism that delivers not only the latest developments but also the context and analysis needed to understand their wider implications.Read More

Get the latest headlines from US news and global updates from Pakistan, Nepal, UK, Bangladesh, Russia and US Iran war Live, get all the latest headlines in one place on Hindustan Times.