ChatGPT Outage: Users Share Their Experiences and Reactions
In a frustrating turn of events, ChatGPT experienced outages affecting users worldwide early this morning. The issues began gradually around 3 a.m. ET, but escalated significantly as user complaints surged at approximately 5:30 a.m. ET, with over 1,000 reports logged during that peak time.
Many users encountered error messages such as “something went wrong” or “error in the message stream” on various platforms, including the ChatGPT website and apps on Windows, Mac, iOS, and Android. The outage wasn’t limited to ChatGPT; OpenAI confirmed that it also impacted their other services, including Sora and various APIs.
The Response from OpenAI
At 9:07 a.m., OpenAI announced that they had identified the root cause of the issue and were actively working to resolve it, as reported by ZDNET. By 10:54 a.m., they communicated that the situation was improving, particularly with the recovery of their API services. However, a complete recovery for tools such as ChatGPT and Sora might require several additional hours.
A spokesperson from OpenAI indicated that no further comments would be made beyond what was shared on their status page, underscoring the ongoing challenges they faced in fully restoring services.
User Reactions Amidst the Outage
The outage sparked considerable concern and frustration among users, particularly students who rely on ChatGPT for academic support. One UK-based student, Alice, highlighted her dependence on the platform for Spanish A-level revision, essay writing, and planning her study schedules. With her final exam looming the next day, she experienced significant stress due to the service unavailability.
Similarly, Shelby from Missouri voiced her dissatisfaction, stating she uses ChatGPT daily for everything from crafting recipes to obtaining health advice. During a recent family illness, she stated that ChatGPT had been instrumental in managing medications and providing emotional support, making the outage particularly impactful for her.
Improvements and Recovery
Fortunately, as the morning progressed, reports began to emerge that some users were able to access ChatGPT again, including members of the ZDNET team. While the recovery was in progress, many waited anxiously for full functionality to be restored.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1. Why is ChatGPT not working today?
Too many requests caused a system error, and OpenAI is still working to resolve it.
Q2. When will ChatGPT be back online?
OpenAI mentioned that full recovery may take a few more hours.
Q3. What should I do if I encounter issues with ChatGPT?
You can check OpenAI’s status page for updates and information regarding service restoration.
Q4. Are other OpenAI services affected?
Yes, other OpenAI services, including Sora and various APIs, are also experiencing outages.
Q5. How can I stay informed about the situation?
Follow OpenAI’s official channels or check their status page for real-time updates on server status and recovery efforts.
