The popular artificial intelligence chatbot, ChatGPT, is currently experiencing widespread issues, leaving millions of users unable to access the service across the globe, including the UAE.

As of Tuesday afternoon, attempts to use the platform were met with frustrating error messages such as “Error in message stream” or “too many concurrent requests.”

The global outage has caused significant frustration among students, professionals, and businesses who rely on the popular service for their daily needs.

OpenAI, the company behind ChatGPT, has acknowledged the problem. On its official status page, OpenAI stated that the platform is “currently experiencing issues” and that “some users are experiencing elevated error rates and latency across the listed services.” The company confirmed they are actively investigating the disruption.

The outage isn’t limited to just the main ChatGPT chatbot. OpenAI’s video generation model, Sora, and its various APIs (Application Programming Interfaces) are also affected. Reports indicate the problem is widespread, impacting users on different devices and operating systems.

This disruption comes as OpenAI has reported significant growth in its user base. The company announced earlier that its weekly active users jumped by 33 per cent to 400 million in February, up from December last year. Additionally, its enterprise customer base for ChatGPT has recently doubled, reaching 3 million paying business users, as more companies integrate AI tools for productivity.

Users are advised to check OpenAI’s official status page for the latest updates on when services are expected to be fully restored.

Individuals promoting content or advertising on social media in the UAE will soon need to follow stricter rules under a new comprehensive regulatory system introduced by the UAE Media Council.

The new framework, announced this week, is designed to build public trust, protect viewers, especially children and adolescents, and raise the quality of online media content. It also outlines heavy penalties for violations, with fines reaching up to Dh1 million for first-time offences and up to Dh2 million for repeat breaches. In serious cases, violators could face temporary or permanent shutdowns, along with permit revocations.

“The new system transforms the way the media sector is regulated and developed,” said Mohammed Saeed Al Shehhi, Secretary-General of the UAE Media Council. 

“It combines updated legislation, comprehensive services, and forward-looking policies to support sustainable growth.”

Fee exemptions and local support

To encourage creativity and responsible content creation, the council announced a three-year exemption from permit fees for individuals and influencers who promote content online. This is part of a broader move to support Emirati talent and creative industries, with similar exemptions offered to local media services, producers, and writers whose work promotes national identity.

The initiative builds on last year’s Media Regulation Law and its Executive Regulation, and aims to stimulate growth in the sector while maintaining strong ethical and professional standards.

New age-rating and licensing systems

A key feature of the new regulations includes a media age-rating system, ensuring that content shared online is appropriate for different age groups, especially young viewers.

The council is also developing a new licensing policy for digital news platforms, with a focus on enhancing credibility and journalistic standards. The goal is to create a balanced legal environment that supports responsible reporting while safeguarding freedom of expression.

The updated system also outlines resolutions related to media service fees, violations, and administrative penalties, offering clearer guidelines for all stakeholders in the media landscape.

The world of future tech is on full display at the 5th BEYOND Expo 2025, now open at The Venetian Macau’s Cotai Expo. Over 800 companies from across Asia have gathered to showcase the region’s most exciting innovations in robotics, AI, clean energy, health tech and more, all under the theme “Empowering Asia, Connecting the World.”

From robot assistants and flying vehicles to human-centric AI and sustainable tech, the event is drawing major attention from business leaders, investors, and tech enthusiasts from around the globe, including the UAE.

The three-day expo kicked off with a powerful message about international cooperation. Key speakers included Indonesia’s Ambassador to China Djauhari Oratmangun, who promoted Southeast Asia’s growing investment opportunities, and Takeo Kawamura, Japan’s former Chief Cabinet Secretary, who emphasised the importance of cross-cultural collaboration in tech development.

A Spotlight on Innovation

Visitors are treated to hands-on demos of futuristic products, from AI-driven health solutions to electric flying vehicles like the Xpeng AEROHT. Across every exhibition zone, the focus is on technology that puts people first while tackling global challenges like climate change and health care.

Global Conversations and Regional Impact

Panel discussions include everything from green building and medical technology to Middle East–Asia cooperation, giving UAE-based innovators and investors plenty of opportunities to plug into Asia’s rapidly expanding tech ecosystem.

The Middle East–Asia Forum, in particular, opens new doors for UAE entrepreneurs interested in building partnerships and exploring tech solutions designed for both regions.

Panel sessions also included BGlobal Summit; Japan Tech Forum, Asia-Europe Tech Forum; International Industrial Design Forum; Founder Talk; Demo session; ORIGIN Southeast Asia Tech Forum; and SheTech Summit.

Celebrating Game-Changers

This year’s BEYOND Awards recognised 25 standout companies for their work in innovation, sustainability, and social impact. Awards such as the BEYOND Impact Awards, Gen Z Innovators, and Healthy Living Product Awards spotlighted bold ideas and bright minds from across the continent.

BEYOND Expo co-founders Jason Ho and Dr. Lu Gang presented BEYOND Best Choice awards to 25 companies.

Since 2021, BEYOND has received over 1,500 nominations, becoming one of the most respected platforms for recognising tech excellence in Asia. Out of this, more than 200 innovative pioneers have been included in the list.

Visit BEYOND Expo 2025

BEYOND Expo is hosted at the massive Cotai Expo at The Venetian Macau, one of Asia’s top event venues, offering over 71,000 square metres of exhibition space. It’s part of the Sands Resorts Macau, which features luxury hotels, high-end shopping, and world-class dining, perfect for visitors mixing business with leisure.

Want to explore the future of tech?
BEYOND Expo 2025 runs this week and is open to industry professionals, startups, and anyone interested in the world of smart innovation.

For more information or to see the full list of exhibitors, visit: www.beyondexpo.com