OpenAI CEO Sam Altman has confirmed that the surge in popularity of ChatGPT’s new image generation tool has led to severe hardware strain. As a result, the company is being forced to limit the release of new features and products.
Altman acknowledged the challenges, stating that while OpenAI is actively working to manage the situation, users should expect potential service disruptions, slowdowns, and delays in feature rollouts. However, as TechCrunch reports, OpenAI remains confident in its ability to handle the issue. “Things will break and service will be slow at times as we deal with capacity issues,” Altman wrote. “We are working hard to resolve issues quickly so that everything actually works.”
Server Strain and Feature Delays
The new image generation tool, which has gained attention for its ability to replicate various artistic styles, including that of Studio Ghibli, has drawn a massive influx of users. This has placed a heavy burden on OpenAI’s servers, with employees working extended hours, including weekends, to maintain stability.
To ease the strain, OpenAI has postponed the launch of its image generator for free-tier ChatGPT users. Additionally, the company has temporarily disabled access to its Sora video generation tool for new users. OpenAI has not provided a specific timeline for resolving these issues but continues to work on expanding its infrastructure.
Massive User Growth
On Monday, ChatGPT recorded one million new sign-ups within a single hour, adds NIX Solutions. The platform now has 500 million weekly users and 20 million paying subscribers, a sharp increase from the 300 million users and 15.5 million subscribers reported at the end of 2024.
The company is actively addressing capacity challenges, and we’ll keep you updated as more details emerge.