OpenAI confirms ChatGPT outage ahead of 'Astra' model launch

OpenAI confirmed a major outage affecting ChatGPT and Codex, with errors across nearly all major features. The disruption comes just ahead of the planned launch of the 'Astra' model, raising questions about launch readiness and potential reputational impact. The cause and scope of the outage remain unclear, but the timing is notable given the high-profile product release.