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2025-10-23T15:49:37.329Z
(Image credit: OpenAI)
Where better to find out information than from ChatGPT itself? I asked the chatbot if it was experiencing any delays. It then told me “Yes”… before telling me there were no known issues affecting ChatGPT.
Following that, ChatGPT then typed out a longer message at a pace that would make a snail seem impressive.
UK-based members of the Tom’s Guide team continue to report similar results, with the chatbot acting incredibly slowly.
2025-10-23T15:44:20.437Z
(Image credit: Shutterstock)
ChatGPT slowed right down for you midway through a task? The good news is that there are plenty of alternative chatbots that can step in until ChatGPT recovers.
Some of our favorite ChatGPT alternatives here at Tom’s Guide include:
Anthropic Claude:
When it comes to working on research, coding, or any kind of task that carries an important feel to it, Claude is always a strong option. It is straight-to-the-point, detailed, and well-trained. In fact, right now it sits at the top of our guide to the best ChatGPT alternatives.
– Try out Claude
Gemini:
Like Claude, Gemini is a strong competitor to ChatGPT. In many ways, it is the closest you’ll see to ChatGPT, offering everything from deep research to image and video generation. It often scores at a similar level to ChatGPT in tests and has a similar style of response.
– Try out Gemini
Perplexity:
Perplexity is hyper-focused in what it offers. If you were using ChatGPT to answer quick questions or find out more about a particular topic, Perplexity can do the task perfectly.
However, it lacks a lot of the extra features you’d see from something like ChatGPT or Gemini. In other words, there is no image or video generation, and it will struggle with hitting some of the more creative or fun notes you find with other chatbots.
– Try out Perplexity
2025-10-23T15:36:39.709Z
(Image credit: Shutterstock)
paid for ChatGPT 10 minutes ago and now it’s down pic.twitter.com/eiNu1mEyksOctober 23, 2025
Posts have been coming through on X for the past hour or so, with users reporting that ChatGPT has either slowed right down or is just not working at all.
While it isn’t clear if they are related, some users are also reporting that ChatGPT Atlas, the company’s new AI internet browser, is also running slower than usual.
2025-10-23T15:28:38.725Z
The reports start
(Image credit: Down Detector)
The reports have started pouring in, jumping to close to 3,000 on Down Detector in the UK.
We’ll have to wait and see if this outage continues to spike or if it’s just a passing blip, but we’ll keep an eye on it so you can determine whether ChatGPT will be back in a few moments or down for an extended period.
