OpenAI confirmed that ChatGPT, its application programming interface (API), and the Sora service experienced a significant outage beginning around 3 PM PT on Wednesday. According to the company’s status page, services began returning to normal by approximately 9 PM PT.
In a tweet addressing the outage, OpenAI stated, “ChatGPT, API, and Sora were down today but we’ve recovered.”
While the specific cause of the outage remains unspecified, an update on the status page indicated that services started to come back online slowly around 7 PM PT. Users attempting to access ChatGPT during the outage encountered messages indicating the service was unavailable, alongside notifications that the company was addressing the issue.
This disruption coincided with the launch of OpenAI’s integration with Apple in the iOS 18.2 update. Some users noted on social media that the ChatGPT service was inaccessible due to the outage, specifically within the Apple Intelligence feature.
OpenAI’s developer community lead, Edwin Arbus, clarified that the outage was not linked to the ongoing “12 Days of OpenAI” event or the Apple Intelligence launch. He explained that a configuration change led to many of their servers becoming unreachable.
The timing of this incident is notable, as OpenAI had just recently launched Sora to the public. CEO Sam Altman acknowledged that the level of interest exceeded initial expectations, which led to restrictions on user sign-ups. Many who managed to sign up for Sora on launch day faced difficulties due to server capacity issues.
Earlier in the same day, Meta’s products also experienced a global service interruption. This OpenAI outage came on the fifth day of the company’s “12 Days of OpenAI” campaign, which features daily product announcements leading into the holiday season. So far, OpenAI has rolled out their o1 reasoning model, initiated a reinforcement fine-tuning research program, introduced Sora, updated Canvas, and completed the Apple Intelligence integration.
OpenAI has kept customers updated regarding these challenges, assuring users that they are working to resolve any lingering issues.
The recovery of these services demonstrates OpenAI’s resilience and commitment to providing reliable technology. As the company continues to innovate and expand its offerings, it remains focused on enhancing the overall user experience.
In summary, while the outage presented challenges for users, OpenAI’s swift recovery and dedication to improving service can inspire confidence moving forward.