OpenAI Tackles DDoS Attack-Induced Outages on ChatGPT and API Services

In a recent turn of events, OpenAI’s ChatGPT, along with its API, Labs, and Playground services, experienced a series of disruptions over a 24-hour period, prompting concerns among its extensive user base.

OpenAI’s Response to Service Interruptions

OpenAI promptly reported the outages affecting ChatGPT and API users. These glitches manifested in various forms, ranging from login difficulties for logged-out ChatGPT users to delayed response times due to unusually high demand. Concurrently, Google Bard also faced similar service disruptions early Wednesday.

Resolution of DDoS Attack

As per OpenAI’s incident report, these outages were attributed to abnormal traffic patterns, indicative of a Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attack. The company swiftly implemented fixes and monitored the situation to ensure service restoration.

The Role of Anonymous Sudan

Reports emerged that the DDoS attack was claimed by Anonymous Sudan. The group publicized their involvement via their Telegram channel, sharing screenshots of error messages from ChatGPT and explaining their motives behind the attack.

Impact on New Features and Custom GPTs

Initially, the outages were suspected to be linked to the new features introduced across OpenAI’s platform on DevDay, particularly concerning the recently released custom GPTs. The issues, however, were resolved shortly after the updates were rolled out.

User Experiences During the Outage

Throughout the day, ChatGPT users encountered a variety of error messages, signaling high demand and server issues. These included login issues for logged-out users and general access blockages to ChatGPT. Users attempting to create new custom GPTs also faced several error messages.

External Confirmations of the Outages

Independent sources like Downdetector and Checkhost recorded multiple reports of outages on ChatGPT’s website and app over the last 24 hours, confirming the widespread impact of the disruptions.

Timeline of the Outages

The outages began on the night of November 7, with partial service interruptions. The situation escalated on November 8 at 5:42 AM PST, leading to a significant outage across ChatGPT and the API. OpenAI’s engineering team quickly responded with a series of fixes to mitigate these issues.

OpenAI’s Commitment to Uptime

Despite this rare disruption, OpenAI maintains a 99% uptime for its services. The recent incident highlighted the complexities of maintaining large-scale AI services and the importance of swift responses to such challenges.

Implications for AI Tool Dependence

For those relying heavily on AI tools for content creation, data analysis, and automated customer service, the robustness of systems like ChatGPT is vital. This outage serves as a reminder of the need for contingency plans to tackle unexpected downtime.

Exploring ChatGPT Alternatives

During the outage, many users turned to alternatives like Google Bard and Claude.ai. However, these services also experienced problems, underscoring the challenges faced by AI-driven tools in ensuring consistent service availability.