Microsoft Outage Hits Bing, Copilot, DuckDuckGo, and ChatGPT Search

[MacRumors]

A significant Microsoft outage has affected several key services, including Bing.com, Copilot for web and mobile, Copilot in Windows, ChatGPT internet search, and DuckDuckGo. The disruption began around 3.00 a.m. Eastern Time, primarily impacting users in Asia and Europe.

User reports and MacRumors' tests indicate that attempts to access Bing.com result in either a blank page or a 429 HTTP code error. Notably, the Bing search functionality remains operational if accessed directly via a specific URL, though the homepage remains inaccessible.

For users needing to perform searches on Bing, accessing the search engine directly through the alternative URL is a workaround. However, Copilot services are entirely offline across all platforms, including the website, app, and Windows integration.

As noted by Bleeping Computer, ChatGPT internet search and DuckDuckGo are also experiencing disruptions due to their reliance on the Bing API. DuckDuckGo users encounter an error message stating, "There was an error displaying the search results. Please try again." Despite the widespread impact, Microsoft has not yet issued a statement, though OpenAI has acknowledged the ChatGPT internet search issues on its support page.

Article Link: Microsoft Outage Hits Bing, Copilot, DuckDuckGo, and ChatGPT Search

 

[Sheepish-Lord]

Just announced all their new AI stuff as well, not a good look.

 

[zilchfox]

Just noticed this with DuckDuckGo, which I had no idea had anything to do with Microsoft.

 

[tgt]

Here too. Strange. Does anybody why?

Bing is one of the sources it uses and it uses Bing for ads. I'd have expected it to be architected in such a way as to continue working when a source is broken, but I have no idea how it actually works.

 

[Rayban]

This type of outage is why it’s important to have these upcoming Copilot+ on-device AI computers. The less we rely on “the cloud” the better.

 

[ozaz]

Bing is one of the sources it uses and it uses Bing for ads. I'd have expected it to be architected in such a way as to continue working when a source is broken, but I have no idea how it actually works.

Bing is the primary source for search results. So if Bing breaks, DuckDuckGo breaks.

Where do DuckDuckGo search results come from?

DuckDuckGo is an independent internet privacy company that offers a private alternative to Google search & Chrome in one free app.

duckduckgo.com

 

[Alfred.Woodden]

Thanks MR for reporting this. I was about to go deep into troubleshooting my system and disable extrnsions one by one. Now I dont have to.

 

[iZac]

my Ducks have failed to Go for a few hours now. I have to use *ugh* Google instead

 

[woolypants]

Obviously the AI has risen up. There's probably all-out battles taking place in the OpenAI data centres right now. When humans win and service is restored, nobody will ever talk about it again.

 

[Tanax]

I use Kagi, it's still working.

 

[Mitthrawnuruodo]

Interestingly enough using the "!g" bang on DDG worked (and send me to Google).

 

[ozaz]

Interestingly enough using the "!g" bang on DDG worked (and send me to Google).

So does !b weirdly (which searches Bing.com directly). So I guess the issue is now limited to the Bing API, rather than Bing itself.

 

[phenste]

this sucks as a years-long DDG user lmao…I will say though, I’m kinda shocked reading the comments here and how few people are aware that DDG is basically just a fork of Bing that’s more privacy-oriented…

edit: s/o @Mitthrawnuruodo and @ozaz for noting that any DDG user can get around this using a !g or !b flag in their search to redirect to Google or Bing respectively

 

[JippaLippa]

I only use Copilot for my AI needs.
I only use Duckduckgo for my search needs.

As you can probably imagine, my day was ruined.

 

[JosephAW]

Recently challenged AI, I bet you can’t delete everything. Guess I lost.

 

[JosephAW]

Good one Google, I got a hand it to you, how much revenue are they making from this outage?

 

[JippaLippa]

Thanks MR for reporting this. I was about to go deep into troubleshooting my system and disable extrnsions one by one. Now I dont have to. 🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻

HAHAHH Same!
Spent all morning tinkering with my network settings and whatnot

 

[mystery hill]

Bing servers have a BSOD now.

 

[JosephAW]

Interesting how My Bank is down as well, how does My Bank use Bing?

 

[mystery hill]

Interesting how My Bank is down as well, how does My Bank use Bing?

Microsoft Azure.

 

[JippaLippa]

Microsoft Azure.

Was about to say the same.
Imagine people missing out on some payments because of this 🤣

Anyway the traffic demands are balooning too fast, and I don't think the server infrastructure is keeping up the pace.
I expect such shortages to become way more common in the next few years.

 

[StuBeck]

Interesting how My Bank is down as well, how does My Bank use Bing?

They don't. Services can be down at different areas without being directly affected. This isn't an "everything Microsoft does" is down situation either. They could be using Azure, or someone could have made some config change issue.

FWIW, my bing and copilot searches are working fine. The issue seems to be only with Microsoft Rewards.

 

[G725]

I wish you could set a custom search engine in Safari.

 

[biffuz]

Oh well, I have bing.com on my PiHole blacklist anyway...

 

[lkrupp]

This type of outage is why it’s important to have these upcoming Copilot+ on-device AI computers. The less we rely on “the cloud” the better.

To paraphrase Thanos, the cloud is inevitable. Get used to it.