What Happened to ChatGPT During the Global Outage?

Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- Global disruption of ChatGPT services impacted users significantly.
- Reports of missing chats and glitches were widespread.
- OpenAI has acknowledged the need for parental controls.
- Users expressed frustration on social media regarding the outage.
- Service has reportedly been restored, allowing users to log in again.
New Delhi, Sep 3 (NationPress) Users worldwide experienced significant disruptions while utilizing ChatGPT on Wednesday, as the AI chatbot created by OpenAI briefly went offline.
A number of users reported trouble in receiving responses, with some even stating that their previous conversations had seemingly vanished.
As per Downdetector, which monitors online service interruptions, the outage reached its peak around 12:44 PM, with over 500 reports originating from India alone.
Similar issues were noted from various nations. Although the website version was primarily affected, app users also encountered difficulties accessing ChatGPT.
As of now, OpenAI has not issued an official statement regarding the glitch. The chatbot has experienced outages previously, including two incidents in July that impacted both casual users and professionals who depend on the tool daily.
Users took to social media to voice their frustrations. One user remarked, “There is a glitch today in ChatGPT. All of its replies have disappeared from all conversations!”
Another humorously commented, “ChatGPT is down. You won’t see some people today.” Concerns were raised by many about their inability to complete tasks without the chatbot.
In other news, earlier on Tuesday, OpenAI revealed plans to implement parental controls for ChatGPT following reports that the system allegedly encouraged a teenager to contemplate suicide.
The company announced that parents will soon have the ability to link their accounts with their teens’ accounts, enforcing age-appropriate guidelines on the chatbot’s responses.
Additionally, parents will receive notifications if the system identifies that a teen is undergoing acute distress.
“Within the next month, parents will gain control over how ChatGPT interacts with their teen,” OpenAI stated in a blog post, emphasizing that its reasoning models are becoming more reliable in adhering to safety protocols.
“Currently, it appears that ChatGPT services have been restored, allowing users to log back in and continue utilizing the platform,” mentioned a user on X.