ChatGPT Down: OpenAI’s AI tool goes down for hours, frustrating users

OpenAI’s ChatGPT was inaccessible to many users on Monday (March 24), with outages reported across multiple models, including ChatGPT-4o and 3.5. The issue was most prominent in the US, where users encountered error messages when attempting to generate responses.

Downdetector, a website that tracks online service disruptions, recorded a spike in outage reports starting around 9 AM ET. The number of complaints increased steadily before peaking and then tapering off around 11 AM ET.

OpenAI Responds, But Details Remain Sparse

OpenAI acknowledged the outage on its status page but did not provide a detailed explanation. The company stated that it was working on mitigation efforts, and normal service gradually resumed. While the outage lasted approximately three hours, the most severe period—when prompts couldn’t be processed and Sora was unavailable—lasted about 45 minutes.


Despite this disruption, OpenAI maintains a strong track record for uptime. A review of its status page shows that both ChatGPT and Sora have an uptime of over 99%. This outage, though inconvenient, was not as severe as previous incidents.

A Pattern of Outages

This is not the first time OpenAI has faced service disruptions. ChatGPT and Sora both experienced significant outages in December 2024 and January 2025, which were longer and more widespread. While OpenAI’s AI services have been relatively stable since then, Monday’s incident shows that occasional outages remain a challenge.

Notably, the latest issue did not impact users globally. Multiple checks with UK-based users confirmed that ChatGPT remained responsive, suggesting the problem was largely regional.

Users Take to Social Media

Frustrated users quickly turned to social media to express their concerns. One user on X (formerly Twitter) wrote, “ChatGPT is down �� wait I can’t breathe.” Another questioned the timing, asking, “Is ChatGPT down during a 9-5 on a Monday??” A third user inquired, “Is ChatGPT down for everyone else or is it just me?”




While humorous, these reactions highlight the growing dependence on AI-powered tools for work, study, and everyday tasks. Even brief outages can cause significant disruptions for users who rely on these platforms.

OpenAI's ability to maintain service reliability is increasingly important as more businesses and individuals integrate AI into their daily workflows. While this outage was short-lived, it underscores the challenge of keeping AI systems online at all times.

As OpenAI continues to refine its technology, ensuring consistent uptime will remain a critical priority. With demand for AI soaring, occasional outages may be inevitable—but minimising them will be key to maintaining user trust.