A massive Microsoft outage on May 23, 2024, led to disruptions across various online services, including Bing, Microsoft Copilot, ChatGPT internet search, and DuckDuckGo.
The issue, which appeared to be linked to Bing’s API, caused widespread frustration and highlighted the interconnected nature of the digital landscape.
Microsoft outage impacts multiple services
The outage’s effects were felt across multiple platforms and services, with users reporting difficulties accessing Bing.com, Microsoft Copilot (both web and mobile versions), and ChatGPT’s internet search functionality, which led to Copilot not working searches to skyrocket on Google.
DuckDuckGo, a search engine not owned by Microsoft but reliant on the Bing API, also experienced disruptions.
Initial reports of the outage began surfacing early morning EDT, primarily impacting users in Asia and Europe. Attempts to access Bing.com resulted in either blank pages or 429 HTTP code errors.
Initial reports of the outage surfaced early morning EDT, primarily impacting users in Asia and Europe
Notably, Bing’s core search functionality remained operational when accessed directly via a specific URL, suggesting the issue was confined to the homepage.
However, Copilot services were completely offline across all platforms, including the website, app, and Windows integration.
The ripple effect
DuckDuckGo, known for its privacy-focused approach to search, also fell victim to the outage. Users encountered error messages when attempting to use the search engine, further emphasizing the widespread impact of the Bing API disruption.
Similarly, ChatGPT Plus subscribers, who typically enjoy the ability to perform web searches within the chatbot interface, found themselves unable to do so during the outage. This limitation, while temporary, underscored the growing integration of search functionalities into AI-powered tools and the potential consequences when those integrations break down.
Microsoft is on the case
In response to the outage, Microsoft acknowledged the issue with Copilot and stated that they were working to isolate the cause. OpenAI, the company behind ChatGPT, also confirmed issues with its internet search feature.
As the day progressed, Microsoft gradually restored services, with DuckDuckGo coming back online first. However, Bing.com and Copilot continued to experience issues for several hours.
The company provided updates through Microsoft 365 Status on X, assuring users that they were actively working on resolving the problem.
Our efforts to understand the root cause of the issue are ongoing. In tandem, we have applied various mitigations and are monitoring
their efficacy; however, some Copilot
functionalities remain affected. More information can be found in the admin center under CP795190.
— Microsoft 365 Status (@MSFT365Status) May 24, 2024
The role of Bing’s API
The outage’s root cause was traced back to Bing’s API, a critical component that allows other services and applications to access and utilize Bing’s search capabilities. When this API malfunctioned, it created a domino effect, impacting all the services that relied on it.
This incident highlighted the growing importance of APIs in today’s digital ecosystem. APIs have become the backbone of countless applications and services, enabling seamless integration and data exchange between different platforms.
However, as the Microsoft outage demonstrated, when an API experiences problems, the consequences can be far-reaching.
The Microsoft outage served as a valuable lesson in the importance of redundancy and contingency planning. While relying on APIs can offer numerous benefits, it’s crucial to have backup plans in place to mitigate the risks associated with potential disruptions.
Featured image credit: fabrikasimf/Freepik
