ChatGPT down: Thousands of users unable to access OpenAI's chatbot

A significant number of users are reporting difficulties accessing OpenAI's popular chatbot, ChatGPT, with complaints flooding in on platforms like Downdetector. In an official update, OpenAI acknowledged these issues, stating that users are encountering higher error rates with the service. They are currently working on a solution to mitigate the problem, although they have not confirmed any complete downtime for ChatGPT. As of 8:10 PM IST, OpenAI indicated that they had implemented a mitigation strategy and were monitoring the situation for recovery. However, the data from Downdetector tells a different tale, revealing over 3,000 outage reports in the U.S., with peak complaints occurring around 7:47 PM IST, which corresponds to 10:47 AM Eastern Time. On social media, users expressed a mix of frustration and confusion, with some completely unable to access ChatGPT while others experienced sluggish performance. One user on the ChatGPT Pro subreddit noted severe delays when trying to create an Excel sheet, commenting on the freezing of their browser. Another user speculated whether these issues could be related to the recent launch of OpenAI's new AI-driven browser, ChatGPT Atlas, which prioritizes ChatGPT over traditional search engines. Additional comments from users highlighted the struggle, with one stating, "I'm not able to do anything. It won't load chats or start new ones." The situation has certainly sparked concern among users, especially in light of the recent advancements in OpenAI’s offerings.