ChatGPT Back Online After Global Outage Disrupts Thousands
OpenAI restores service following hours of downtime
- Over 10,000 users reported issues, encountering error messages on Thursday
- OpenAI implemented a solution within hours but hasn’t disclosed the cause
- ChatGPT serves over 300 million weekly users, with subscription plans up to $200/month
ChatGPT, the world’s leading AI chatbot, is fully operational again after a widespread outage disrupted service for thousands of users worldwide.
According to Downdetector, over 10,000 people in the UK reported issues on Thursday, with users encountering an error message stating, “the web server reported a bad gateway error.”
OpenAI confirmed the outage began around 11:00 GMT and implemented a fix by 15:09 GMT, as noted on its status page. While the cause remains undisclosed, OpenAI assured users it was monitoring the situation closely.
Social media buzzed with reactions during the downtime, with some users turning to humor. One quipped on X (formerly Twitter), “ChatGPT is down again? During the workday? So you’re telling me I have to… THINK?!”
Since its November 2022 debut, ChatGPT has revolutionized the AI landscape, attracting over 300 million weekly users by late 2024. OpenAI, which charges up to $200 monthly for premium subscriptions, remains a key player in the booming generative AI industry.
The outage comes amid OpenAI’s ambitious plans, including a $500 billion commitment to AI infrastructure development in the US.
