ChatGPT down: OpenAI reports major outage as users see error messages
ChatGPT, the AI assistant known for engaging in human-like conversations and generating readable text on demand from a vast database of digital books and online writings, has faced a widespread outage. Since its launch in November 2022, ChatGPT has garnered around 500 million users worldwide.
OpenAI Addresses the Issue
On a Tuesday morning, OpenAI, the operator behind ChatGPT, acknowledged the problem on its website, stating, "Some users are experiencing elevated error rates and latency across the listed services. We are continuing to investigate this issue." Later in the day, the company identified the cause and reported "degraded performance" as they worked towards full recovery on the platform.
User Frustrations
Users shared screenshots showing error messages such as "Hmmm... something seems to have gone wrong" and "A network error occurred. Please check your connection and try again. If this issue persists please contact us through our help centre at help.openai.com." Some users also noted delays in the bot's responses to their queries.
Impact on OpenAI
OpenAI, valued at $300 billion, boasts over 400 million weekly active users. Additionally, it has 10 million paying subscribers on Chat GPT Plus. The recent introduction of a new AI image generation feature, GPT-4o, for free users has expanded the platform's offerings.
AI's Growing Influence
The expansion of AI technologies like ChatGPT has sparked discussions about their implications. While critics raise concerns about potential job displacement and profiting from human creativity, proponents highlight the streamlining of processes and time-saving benefits for workers who embrace the technology.
Concerns and Future Outlook
There are also concerns about potential misuse of AI, with reports of students using platforms like ChatGPT for academic dishonesty. In response to the growing reliance on AI, government initiatives are being launched to equip individuals with the necessary skills for AI-integrated roles.
Research by the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) suggests that by 2035, AI will impact the roles of approximately 10 million workers, indicating a significant shift in the employment landscape.
