ChatGPT Global Outage Sends Internet Into a Frenzy

On June 10, 2025, a sudden and unexpected disruption as ChatGPT, OpenAI’s widely used AI chatbot, hit users across the world and went completely offline. Students finishing assignments and businesses relying on generative AI for daily operations felt the global outage intensely.

The blackout began around 12:30 PM IST, with users reporting blank screens, failed logins, and constant loading errors. Within minutes, #ChatGPTDown was trending on social media, with memes, frustrations, and confusion flooding timelines. For many, it felt like a digital power cut—proof of just how deeply integrated ChatGPT has become in our daily lives.

OpenAI issued a brief acknowledgement saying, “We are currently investigating the issue,” but they offered no detailed explanation during the peak hours of the crash. The outage impacted not only the free version but also ChatGPT Plus and Enterprise users, further amplifying user frustration.

The tool, which exploded in popularity since its release in late 2022, now serves as everything from a writing assistant to a coding partner and customer service bot. Its sudden unavailability wasn’t just a tech hiccup—it revealed our collective dependence on AI tools, and just how disruptive it can be when they go silent.

Although full functionality was restored after a few hours, the blackout ignited broader discussions. What happens when an AI service used by millions becomes unavailable without warning? Should we be building backup systems? And more importantly, who is responsible when the algorithms go dark?

For now, ChatGPT is back, but the brief outage was a wake-up call. As AI becomes more essential, its stability—and transparency—matters more than ever.