OpenAI resolves image generation outage in ChatGPT and images API

On September 9, 2026, OpenAI reported that its image generation functionality for ChatGPT and the Images API experienced an outage lasting approximately 7 hours and 27 minutes, from 10:32 PM to 3:59 AM Beijing Time on September 8. The issue primarily affected ChatGPT users and developers using the Images API, with increased error rates when generating images. File uploads were also impacted, with some files appearing uploaded but remaining in processing status and others failing outright. OpenAI has not disclosed the technical cause, the number of affected users, or an estimated time for full recovery. The incident highlights ongoing challenges in maintaining stable AI services.