ChatGPT, the widely used AI chatbot developed by OpenAI, was hit by a global outage on Wednesday, leaving thousands of users unable to access the service across its web platform, mobile app and API integrations.

Reports of problems began surfacing around 10:30 am, when users across multiple regions flagged login failures, error messages and unresponsive chats. Within minutes, complaints started pouring onto social media platforms such as X and Reddit, where frustrated subscribers confirmed the disruption had spread globally.

Online monitoring services including Downdetector and downforeveryoneorjustme.com also recorded a sharp surge in reports, peaking during the mid-morning hours. According to Downdetector, more than 515 users in India and hundreds elsewhere registered issues in the past half-hour alone. 

While some users attempted browser changes and cache resets, the problems appeared to stem from OpenAI’s servers. “Everyone running to X to see if ChatGPT is down,” one user posted, sharing a meme video that underscored the mix of annoyance and humour dominating the online reaction.

Despite the scale of the outage, OpenAI has not issued a statement or indicated when services might be fully restored.

History of service interruptions

The AI platform, a favourite among professionals, students and casual users, has suffered repeated downtime in recent months. On September 3, ChatGPT briefly went offline for around 10 minutes, following similar glitches on September 1 and 2.

Earlier this year, on 5 February, a worldwide outage left more than 22,000 users without access. On January 23, access collapsed across countries including Spain, Argentina and the United States, lasting for more than three hours. Another incident on December 26, 2024 also caused widespread disruption.

The most prolonged breakdown occurred on June 10, 2025, when ChatGPT fell silent for nearly 12 hours, severely impacting users in India and the US. OpenAI has yet to provide a technical explanation for that failure.

Users turn to alternatives

With ChatGPT unavailable, attention shifted to rival AI platforms. Google’s Gemini, Microsoft Copilot and Jasper Chat were put forward as substitutes, while YouChat and Perplexity AI were highlighted for their ability to deliver real-time and research-focused results.