Users around the world faced disruptions with OpenAI’s ChatGPT and other applications late Wednesday evening. The issues, which affected users from Japan to Australia, were first reported at approximately 8:30 p.m., according to Down Detector.

Quick Response and Recovery

In response to the outage, OpenAI swiftly acknowledged the problem and began investigating. Around 15 minutes later, the company reported seeing signs of recovery in both its API and Sora services, reassuring users that efforts were underway to resolve the issue.

By just before midnight EST, OpenAI confirmed the outage was resolved, with a spokesperson telling FOX Business that “all systems are currently operational.”

A Repeat of Previous Issues

This recent outage follows a similar incident in late December, when OpenAI experienced a major service disruption. In that case, the issue was traced back to an upstream provider— a company that links a local internet service provider to the broader internet.

Timing and Context

Interestingly, the outage came just a day after OpenAI announced the rollout of a new, education-focused version of ChatGPT. The updated chatbot will be made available to 500,000 students and faculty at California State University as part of OpenAI’s push to expand its presence in the academic sector. This move also positions the company to compete more directly with rivals like Google’s Alphabet.

With the outage quickly resolved, OpenAI continues to address the challenges of keeping its services up and running smoothly across the globe.

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A recent ransomware attack on a major software provider has caused significant disruptions for several companies, including Starbucks and U.K. grocery chain Morrisons.

The attack targeted Blue Yonder, a software company that provides supply chain technology to global brands. On Thursday, Blue Yonder acknowledged service disruptions caused by the ransomware incident, which affected systems used by various clients.

For Starbucks, the attack impacted the company’s ability to manage barista schedules and track employee hours. As a result, store leaders across North America have been instructed to use manual workarounds until the issue is resolved. Despite these disruptions, Starbucks reassured customers that service at its stores remains unaffected. The company emphasized that ensuring employees are paid correctly for all hours worked is a top priority. By Tuesday morning, Starbucks confirmed that payroll processing had resumed.

Blue Yonder is continuing efforts to restore its services to normal, while affected companies work to resolve any ongoing issues caused by the breach.

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Microsoft has begun rolling out fixes to address widespread outages that disrupted email and calendar services for thousands of users. As of Monday evening, the company reported “incremental recovery” but did not provide a clear timeline for full restoration.

Extent of the Outage

The issue, primarily affecting Microsoft 365 users, was first reported Monday morning. Over 5,300 users flagged problems on the website Down Detector by noon EST, with the majority (85%) reporting issues with Outlook, followed by Exchange (9%) and SharePoint (6%). By 6 p.m., reports had dropped to fewer than 500.

The outages mainly impacted access to Exchange Online—a cloud-based email service—and Microsoft Teams calendars.

Microsoft’s Response

Microsoft identified a “recent change” as the likely cause of the outage and has since reversed it. The company began deploying fixes as early as 9 a.m. EST, which included manual restarts of affected machines.

While the fixes initially restored service to about 98% of customers by late morning, Microsoft later reported slower-than-expected progress for the remaining users. By 6 p.m., the company noted continued incremental recovery.

Possible Connection to New Features

Microsoft did not specify the exact change that caused the issue. However, the outage coincided with the rollout of a new tool called Recall AI for Windows Insiders. This feature takes regular snapshots of computer activity to create a searchable “photographic memory” on PCs.

The tool, first announced in May, had faced privacy and security criticisms, delaying its full launch. Whether its rollout is linked to the outage remains unclear.

About Microsoft 365

Outlook and Teams are key components of Microsoft 365, a suite of software and cloud-based services widely used by businesses for communication and collaboration. Microsoft Teams enables messaging, scheduling, and video calls, making it an essential tool for modern workplaces.

Microsoft’s Market Performance

Microsoft remains one of the world’s most valuable companies, ranked No. 8 on Forbes’ list. The tech giant, co-founded by Bill Gates and Paul Allen in 1975, reached a $3 trillion valuation in January, becoming the second company to hit this milestone.

Despite the outages, Microsoft shares traded at just over $415 on Monday morning, down 0.3%, even as the Nasdaq gained nearly 0.5%. Gates, a co-founder, ranks as the world’s 15th-richest individual with an estimated net worth of $106.5 billion.

This outage highlights the challenges faced by even the most robust cloud service providers and the ripple effects on businesses worldwide. Users are advised to monitor Microsoft’s updates as recovery efforts continue.

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