I normally use a custom GPT from ChatGPT to format my nightly newsletter. However, ChatGPT is down right now so I am left to my own devices to write tonight's newsletter. It is 5:35 PM PST and if you head over to chatgpt.openai.com, you will be greeted with this message.
My first search of "is chatgpt down" produced these headlines. Everything looked a bit more hopeful.
When I did the search again a few minutes later, the information was all over the place. "ChatGPT down for thousands of users." "ChatGPT down for millions of users." "Global outage."
This was an interesting comment:
This information appears to be INCORRECT. BlueSky did not go down. Shame on you BDaveWalters for spreading misinformation.
However, there was another service outage of note today:
Now, while Denial of Service attacks can cause widespread service outages, it is also possible both these companies simply experienced technical issues on the same day. With regards to timing, the Meta outage began around 10 AM PST and at its peak impacted 100,000 users on Facebook and tens of thousands on other Meta platforms. The company attributed the disruption to a "technical issue" but did not provide specific details about the cause.
Read on to learn why ChatGPT may have gone down.
Could the Apple Integration with ChatGPT Have Caused The Big Crash?
ChatGPT launched enhanced Apple integration this morning as part of the public release of iOS 18.2, bringing OpenAI's advanced language model directly to Apple's AI ecosystem.
Key points about this announcement:
ChatGPT is now integrated into Apple Intelligence, expanding its accessibility to iOS users
The integration is part of the iOS 18.2 update
This collaboration marks a significant partnership between OpenAI and Apple in the AI space.
Availability and Requirements
The update is available for iPhone 15, iPhone 15 Pro, and all iPhone 16 series models.
Users don't need an OpenAI account to use the ChatGPT integration, but can opt to log in for access to higher-quality models.
The features can be accessed through Settings > Apple Intelligence & Siri on iPhones and iPads, or through System Settings on Macs.
Why Is ChatGPT Down?
The exact cause of the outage is still being investigated. Platforms like Down Detector and Reddit have seen a spike in user complaints about access issues. Many users confirm that they are experiencing similar problems, indicating that this is not an isolated incident.
I enjoyed this comment on the r/OpenAI subreddit to the topic: "Is ChatGPT down?"
The OpenAI Status Page
As of 7:10 PM when I'm getting ready to publish this newsletter, OpenAI is still reporting progress on bringing the service back up "region by region." Good news for those university students who may have a paper due.
Did The Apple Integration Contribute to the ChatGPT Crash?
It is possible the Apple integration contributed to ChatGPT's current outage. OpenAI has acknowledged that ChatGPT is experiencing global accessibility issues, which coincided with the the ChatGPT Siri integration. Some speculate that the outage may be due to the surge in iOS users testing the new integration.
Final Thoughts
This integration marks a significant collaboration between Apple and OpenAI, potentially positioning Apple as a frontrunner in consumer-focused AI and enhancing the appeal of newer iPhone models.
This incident underscores the crucial need for robust infrastructure and proactive measures to prevent future outages as AI systems become increasingly integral to our daily lives. Ensuring the dependability and stability of these systems is paramount for maintaining user trust and preventing disruptions to essential tasks and workflows. While the December 11th outage presented temporary challenges, it also highlighted the rapid evolution and growing importance of AI in our interconnected world.
Ultimately, the outage served as a reminder of our increasing reliance on AI tools and the potential impact that service disruptions can have on individuals and organizations. As AI continues to evolve and integrate into various aspects of our lives, ensuring the reliability and stability of these systems is crucial for maintaining user trust and preventing disruptions to critical tasks and workflows. (Now, back to work ChatGPT. Those papers aren't going to write themselves.)
Looking Back at Shipmas
Here’s the chronological order of the announcements made by OpenAI during the "12 Days of Shipmas" event:
Day 1 (December 5, 2024)
Launch of ChatGPT Pro: A new subscription tier priced at $200/month, offering enhanced features and capabilities.
Day 2 (December 6, 2024)
Reinforcement Fine-Tuning (RFT) Capabilities: Introduction of an alpha program called the RFT Research Program, allowing developers to create specialized models with minimal training data.
Day 3 (December 7, 2024)
Launch of Sora: OpenAI's text-to-video AI generator was unveiled, showcasing advancements in multimedia AI applications.
Day 4 (December 8, 2024)
Partnership with Microsoft: Announcement of a collaboration with Microsoft to integrate OpenAI's models into Microsoft products and services.
Day 5 (December 9, 2024)
Integration with Apple: ChatGPT becomes available on Apple Intelligence as part of the iOS 18.2 update, enhancing accessibility for iOS users.
This timeline highlights OpenAI's strategic focus on expanding its offerings and partnerships in the AI landscape. More announcements are expected in the following days.
