Outlook and ChatGPT Work outages disrupt users on Aug. 31

The Outlook ChatGPT Work outage reports on Monday, Aug. 31, involved separate service disruptions at Microsoft and OpenAI. Microsoft said some users could face degraded functionality in various Exchange Online functions, while OpenAI said ChatGPT Work was experiencing elevated errors and latency. The companies did not identify a common cause, and CNBC reported no indication that the incidents were connected.

For people using the services during the disruption, the practical issue was access to workplace tools: email functions for some Microsoft users and task completion in ChatGPT Work for OpenAI customers. The supplied updates did not confirm a root cause, a full restoration time, or a final resolution for either incident.

What happened in the Outlook and ChatGPT Work outage?

Microsoft said through its Microsoft 365 status account that it had confirmed degraded functionality affecting various Exchange Online features. The company said it was reviewing service telemetry and diagnostic data to determine the source of the issue, according to CNBC.

Separately, OpenAI said users on multiple subscription plans might be unable to begin or continue tasks in ChatGPT Work. The company reported elevated errors and latency for roughly three hours and said it was continuing to implement a mitigation, CNBC reported.

ChatGPT Work is an enterprise-focused OpenAI product. The incident information in the record specifically concerns ChatGPT Work, rather than establishing an outage across all ChatGPT services.

What users reported

Downdetector figures provide a snapshot of user-submitted problem reports, not a confirmed count of affected customers. CNBC reported that at 2:24 p.m. ET, more than 1,100 reports involved OpenAI products. Outlook had close to 4,600 reports shortly afterward, and both report totals had peaked earlier in the day.

The National News Desk later reported nearly 6,000 Outlook reports on Downdetector and said affected users reported trouble opening, searching and sending email. It also reported that Microsoft said at 3:01 p.m. EST that it was refining its remediation strategy while internal testing continued.

• Microsoft confirmed degraded functionality across various Exchange Online functions.
• OpenAI said some ChatGPT Work users could not start or continue tasks.
• Neither company disclosed a cause in the available updates.
• No supplied reporting established that the Microsoft and OpenAI disruptions were related.

The timing drew attention because Microsoft and OpenAI are longtime partners, but a business relationship does not establish a technical connection between concurrent incidents. Readers looking for the latest operating status would need to check each company’s service updates, because the available reports capture a fast-moving event on Aug. 31 rather than a confirmed final outcome.

This story draws on original reporting from CNBC.