What Happened
On June 10, 2025, OpenAI’s ChatGPT experienced a significant outage that affected users worldwide. Reports of issues began to surface around 2:41 AM, with users experiencing elevated error rates and latency across various services, including ChatGPT and its associated application programming interfaces (APIs). The outage persisted for several hours, leading to widespread frustration among users who rely on the AI chatbot for various tasks, from academic assistance to personal support.
As the outage unfolded, Downdetector, a website that tracks service disruptions, recorded a surge in outage reports, peaking at over 2,000 submissions at one point. Users reported receiving error messages such as “Too many concurrent requests” and “Conversation not found,” indicating that the service was intermittently unavailable or slow to respond. OpenAI acknowledged the issues on its status page and stated that they were investigating the root cause of the problems.
Key Details
- Outage Start Time: Reports of issues began around 2:41 AM on June 10, 2025.
- Peak Outage Reports: Downdetector recorded over 2,000 outage reports at the height of the disruption.
- Error Messages: Common messages included “Too many concurrent requests” and “Conversation not found.”
- Duration: The outage lasted for over 10 hours, with intermittent service restoration noted throughout the day.
- User Impact: Many users expressed frustration, particularly students and professionals who depend on ChatGPT for academic and work-related tasks.
OpenAI’s status page indicated that they were experiencing “elevated error rates” and were actively working to resolve the issues. By the end of the day, some users reported improved access, although many continued to experience sporadic problems.
Multiple Perspectives
The outage elicited a range of responses from users and commentators. Some users took to social media and forums like Reddit to share their experiences, highlighting how integral ChatGPT has become in their daily lives. For instance, students preparing for exams expressed concern about losing valuable study time, while professionals noted disruptions in their workflows. A user shared that they relied on ChatGPT for emotional support during a difficult personal time, emphasizing the chatbot’s role in their daily routine.
Conversely, some commentators pointed out that outages are not uncommon in technology services, especially those that experience rapid growth and high usage rates. They argue that while the outage was frustrating, it underscores the challenges of maintaining robust infrastructure for widely used platforms. OpenAI’s ongoing development and updates to the service were also mentioned as potential reasons for the instability, suggesting that users might expect occasional disruptions as the company scales its operations.
Context & Background
ChatGPT, developed by OpenAI, has rapidly gained popularity since its launch in 2022, providing users with a versatile tool for tasks such as writing, editing, and generating content. Its integration into various applications and services has made it a staple for many users, including students, professionals, and casual users seeking assistance with everyday tasks.
The June 2025 outage follows a similar incident that occurred in June 2024, raising questions about the reliability of the service. As AI technologies become more embedded in daily life, the expectation for consistent performance increases, making outages particularly impactful. OpenAI’s commitment to improving its services and addressing user concerns will be crucial in maintaining trust and satisfaction among its user base.
What We Don’t Know Yet
While OpenAI has acknowledged the outage and is investigating the root cause, specific details regarding the nature of the technical issues remain unclear. There is no confirmed timeline for when full service will be restored, and users continue to report varying levels of access. Additionally, it is uncertain whether this outage will lead to any long-term changes in OpenAI’s infrastructure or service protocols.
The broader implications of such outages on user trust and reliance on AI tools also warrant further exploration. As more individuals integrate AI into their daily routines, understanding how to mitigate the impact of service disruptions will be essential for companies like OpenAI moving forward.
