Key Points:
- Microsoft Bing API outage impacts Copilot, DuckDuckGo, and ChatGPT search features.
- Services relying on Bing, including DuckDuckGo and Ecosia, are down or intermittently responsive.
- Microsoft and affected companies are actively investigating and addressing the issue.
An unexpected Microsoft Bing outage has disrupted the search capabilities of multiple platforms, including ChatGPT, Copilot, and DuckDuckGo. The issue, linked to Bing’s application programming interface (API), has rendered these services either completely unavailable or intermittently responsive since around 3 AM ET.
This widespread problem not only affected external platforms but also Microsoft’s own Bing search engine, though Bing has since resumed normal operations according to TechCrunch. However, third-party services that depend on Bing’s API, such as DuckDuckGo and Ecosia, are still unable to deliver search results.
Microsoft’s Copilot is similarly affected, displaying a perpetual loading loop that prevents users from accessing the service. ChatGPT Plus users, who rely on web searches, are encountering error messages when making search inquiries.
Microsoft has acknowledged the problem and stated they are working to identify the root cause. Meanwhile, OpenAI and Ecosia have confirmed issues with their platforms and are investigating. Despite the ongoing disruptions, Microsoft’s service health dashboard does not indicate any other significant outages.
We’re investigating an issue where users may be unable to access the Microsoft Copilot service. We’re working to isolate the cause of the issue. More information can be found in the admin center under CP795190.
— Microsoft 365 Status (@MSFT365Status) May 23, 2024
