On July 16, the popular artificial intelligence platform ChatGPT suddenly encountered a widespread problem, causing millions of global users to be unable to access and use the service. In order to clarify the impact and handling direction, Lao Dong Newspaper had a quick discussion with Mr. Le Cong Nang - AI expert, Chairman of the Vietnam Entrepreneurs Forum.
How has the ChatGPT incident on July 16 affected users around the world, sir?
- This is an incident with a fairly large impact. First of all, it disrupts the work and learning of many individuals and organizations - those who are dependent on ChatGPT as a virtual assistant in content creation, planning, data analysis or translation.
Next, it raises certain doubts about the stability of AI platforms. When users are used to the high performance and instant response of a tool like ChatGPT, any interruption can easily lead to disappointment or even loss of trust.
Not only that, many businesses integrating ChatGPT into customer service systems, chatbots, and internal analysis tools have also been affected, leading to a stagnation in operations and services.
What is the main cause of this incident, in your opinion?
- OpenAI has not yet announced the specific cause, but often these types of incidents stem from three main groups of reasons: System overload, software failure, or global network infrastructure problems. With the popularity of ChatGPT today, just a small mistake can create a domino effect that affects millions of people.

So what should users do when they encounter similar incidents in the future, sir?
- Users should be proactive and flexible with some basic steps such as:
Check the network connection, update the browser or application;
Log out - log in to your account again;
Delete trinh memory cache and cookies;
Try accessing it using a browser or other device;
Check the status of OpenAI's operations at status.openai.com;
Use VPNs if you encounter regional limits.
In addition, users should also diversify the AI tools they use, not rely solely on a single platform. For professional users, backing up work results and preparing replacement options is very necessary.
What advice do you have for businesses that are integrating AI into operations?
- Businesses need to consider AI as a strategic assistant, not an all-powerful god. Standmarize the AI operation process, build a backup plan and internally train how to effectively exploit AI.
More importantly, closely following technical information from developers such as OpenAI, Google, Anthropic... will help businesses stay proactive in the face of technological risks, instead of being passive in the face of unexpected "c crashes" like this one.
Thank you for sharing!