Several of the world’s most widely used artificial intelligence services experienced simultaneous outages Thursday, with ChatGPT, Claude, Grok, Gemini and the AI coding tool Cursor all logging spikes in user-reported problems within roughly the same half-hour window, according to outage-tracking site Downdetector.

Downdetector said Thursday’s disruption to OpenAI’s ChatGPT drew more than 340,000 reports globally, marking the platform’s largest outage by Downdetector report volume in more than a year. The scale of the disruption, and the unusual coincidence of multiple competing AI platforms going down at once, drew significant attention from users and industry observers, given how unusual it is for services built on distinct backend infrastructure and operated by rival companies to fail within the same narrow time window.

According to OpenAI’s status page, the ChatGPT outage began around 10:58 a.m. ET Thursday, ultimately affecting 15 separate ChatGPT components, including login, search, image generation, voice mode and its Deep Research feature, along with four components of OpenAI’s Codex coding tool.

Anthropic’s Claude experienced a parallel disruption around the same time. According to the company’s status dashboard, elevated errors affected a specific set of Claude models, including Opus 5, Opus 4.8 and Opus 4.6, spanning the Claude.ai web interface, Anthropic’s developer API, and its Claude Code and Claude Cowork products. Anthropic later reported that most Claude models had recovered to baseline error rates even as some of the more advanced models continued experiencing issues for a longer stretch.

Grok, the chatbot developed by Elon Musk’s xAI, was also affected, with the company’s own status page confirming an active outage impacting both its web application and API across two separate regions. According to Bloomberg, xAI acknowledged the issue and said it was working to address the problem. SpaceX later attributed the underlying cause of the Grok disruption to an outage at the company’s computing center in Memphis, Tennessee.

Cursor, a popular AI-powered coding tool that relies on underlying models from multiple providers, was also swept into the disruption, with the company citing the concurrent Grok and Claude issues as the source of its own service problems.

Google’s Gemini experienced a comparatively narrower disruption than the other affected platforms. While Downdetector recorded a spike in user reports related to Gemini, and some users reported connection timeouts and internal server errors, Google never issued an official confirmation of a full platform outage. Google AI Studio’s status page did note problems specifically affecting the serving of newly created API keys, which the company described as a partial degradation rather than a complete service failure.

Recovery timelines varied somewhat across the affected platforms. According to tracking from 9to5Google, services began recovering around 8:49 a.m. Pacific time, with full restoration confirmed across ChatGPT, Claude and Grok by 12:38 p.m. Pacific time on Sept. 3. Separately, tracking site EWN reported that most affected systems had returned to normal performance by roughly 7 p.m. South African time, with OpenAI describing the underlying issue behind the ChatGPT and Codex disruption as a routing error that the company said it fixed within about an hour.

Despite the scale and unusual synchronicity of Thursday’s outages, none of the companies involved, including OpenAI, Anthropic or xAI, published a detailed public root-cause explanation identifying precisely why so many separate AI platforms experienced disruptions within such a tight window. No infrastructure vendor, distributed denial-of-service attack, or specific shared configuration bug was publicly identified as a common underlying cause connecting the various outages.

The disruption prompted widespread commentary on social media, with some users noting the rare experience of being temporarily unable to rely on AI tools for everyday tasks. One social media user, writing on Bluesky, offered a wry observation about the moment.

“For its part, OpenAI’s status page listed 15 affected ChatGPT components,” one report noted, capturing the scale of the disruption across the platform’s various features, while a widely shared social media post remarked that “for a brief moment, millions of people had to use their brains again.”

Industry commentators have pointed to Thursday’s outages as a notable moment for a technology sector increasingly dependent on cloud-hosted AI services for both consumer and enterprise workflows. One analysis noted that the disruptions affected multiple distinct backend architectures, regional data centers and specialized programming interfaces simultaneously, a scale of impact that exceeded what would typically be expected from a routine single-vendor cloud hiccup.

Some technology commentators used the incident to argue for greater resilience planning among businesses that have built critical workflows around cloud-based AI tools. Suggestions circulating in the aftermath of the outage included accelerating the deployment of smaller, locally hosted open-source AI models as fallback options during cloud outages, and implementing more aggressive timeout thresholds and automated fallback mechanisms within software systems that depend on external AI application programming interfaces, to prevent operations from stalling entirely when a given provider experiences a disruption.

Thursday’s incident adds to a growing list of significant AI service disruptions recorded throughout 2026, a year that has already seen several major single-vendor outages affecting individual AI platforms, including a Claude-specific incident in June that lasted approximately seven hours. The unusual coincidence of multiple major providers experiencing outages within the same narrow window, however, distinguishes Thursday’s disruption from those earlier, more isolated incidents.

For users and businesses that experienced disruptions Thursday, the affected companies’ official status pages, including status.openai.com for ChatGPT and Codex, along with Anthropic’s and xAI’s respective status dashboards, remain the most authoritative sources for confirming whether any new related incidents emerge going forward. As of the latest available updates, all major affected platforms had returned to normal operating status, though none of the companies involved had provided users with a comprehensive explanation of what caused so many independent AI systems to falter within the same brief window on Thursday morning.

While petrol has hit its highest price since the Iran war began, according to the RAC, diesel remains below the peak of 191.54p a litre it reached on 15 April.

In early July, the RAC said the average price of petrol sank to a low of 150.59p per litre and 164.52p per litre for diesel.

Since then the prices have risen, with petrol now at 163.6p a litre while diesel costs 184.99p a litre.

RAC’s head of policy Simon Williams said that, with oil prices remaining elevated, drivers will “almost certainly start paying noticeably more at the pumps in the coming weeks”.

Despite the conflict, petrol and diesel prices remain below the levels reached in the summer of 2022 following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, when petrol reached 191.5p a litre and diesel hit 199p.

Because transporting oil is a slow process, price movements in the wholesale markets take about a fortnight to show at the pump.

Fuel retailers have denied accusations of price gouging during the conflict. The official markets regulator said it had “not seen evidence of retailers actively changing their pricing strategies to take advantage of the crisis”.

A government scheme called Fuel Finder, external lets drivers compare the cost of fuel offered by petrol stations across the UK.

Luke Bosdet, the head of policy at the AA, said the group had been surprised at the speed that prices had fallen and put it down to the scheme.

In May, the then Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said a planned 5p increase in fuel duty due in September would be postponed until the end of December because of the conflict.

HERSHEY, PA. — The Hershey Co. has promoted Dave Hulays to chief financial officer. He succeeds Steve Voskuil, who intends to retire in early 2027.

Hulays has more than 30 years of financial leadership experience, including the past 14 years at Hershey. He most recently was vice president of finance. Since joining Hershey in 2012 as vice president of finance for Canada, he has taken on broader financial leadership responsibilities across the company, including the US and international businesses, global supply chain, M&A and enterprise transformation.

Before joining Hershey, he spent 15 years at Procter & Gamble in commercial, supply chain, strategy, global business development and global business services across the company’s North American and international businesses.

“Dave is a proven, enterprise-minded finance leader who has helped shape nearly every corner of this business, from our commercial and supply chain organizations to our growth agenda,” said Kirk Tanner, president and chief executive officer of Hershey. “He leads with rigor, accountability and courage. I’m confident he’s the right person to lead our finance organization into its next chapter.”

Hulays holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Waterloo and a master’s degree in business administration from York University’s Schulich School of Business in Toronto.

Voskuil, who has led Hershey’s finance organization for the past seven years, will move into the role of senior vice president of strategic projects until his retirement early next year. He will focus on initiatives for the CEO and board while ensuring a smooth transition with Hulays, the company said.

“I also want to thank Steve for his leadership over the past seven years,” Tanner said. “He has been an incredible partner to me and to this company, and his continued partnership will support some of our most important priorities as we move through this transition.” 

KANSAS CITY — Companies are expanding classic brand portfolios with innovations.

The Campbell’s Co. is adding electrolytes to its V8 Energy line. The beverage line is offered in drink mix sticks and ready-to-drink canned formats. The drink mixes contain magnesium and vitamins A, C, E and B. The canned beverages are formulated with potassium, electrolytes and B vitamins. Both formats are available in lemon lime, strawberry passionfruit and white peach flavors, and each flavor contains 80 mg of caffeine.

The Hershey Co. is adding creme-filled chocolate bars to its Hershey candy bar line. Hershey’s Creme Bars are available in salted caramel and affogato varieties.

Mars, Inc. is innovating its Pringles line with Pringles Dippers. The chip innovation is a thicker, sturdier and wavier crisp intended for dipping, according to the company. The chips are offered in flavors such as original, french onion and bacon cheddar.

“We know it can be frustrating if your typical salty dipping vessel prevents your perfect scoop or breaks as you dip, which is why we’ve created Pringles Dippers,” said Eileen Flaherty-Yao, senior director of salty, Mars Snacking North America. “Our iconic parabolic shape is now thicker and wavier than ever — built to handle any dipping style from light dips to heavy scoops.” 

View slideshow of more new products on the shelves

Labor Day travelers are facing higher costs for flights and hotels as they head out for the final holiday weekend of summer, according to AAA and travel expert Pauline Frommer.

AAA booking data shows domestic airfare is up 2% compared with last year, averaging $750 for a round-trip ticket. Fares to the holiday weekend’s most popular domestic destinations are nearly 20% higher, averaging $790.

Hotel prices are also rising, with domestic bookings up 9% and international hotel bookings up 12% compared with last Labor Day weekend, according to AAA.

“We are seeing prices ticking up for airfares most definitely, but also for hotels, for rental cars, for cruise ships,” Pauline Frommer, publisher of Frommer’s Travel Guides, told FOX Business.

SOUTHWEST TO OPEN FIRST-EVER AIRPORT LOUNGES IN PREMIUM PUSH

AAA booking data shows domestic airfare is up 2% compared with last year, averaging $750 for a round-trip ticket. (Elijah Nouvelage/AFP via Getty Images)

Frommer said higher fuel prices tied to the war in Iran are one factor. 

Current market trends suggest drivers could pay more for gas this Labor Day weekend than they did a year ago, according to AAA.

Frommer also said airlines, hotels and other travel companies are increasingly using artificial intelligence (AI) to better predict how much customers are willing to pay.

“Everyone is using this new technology to better understand or to better test what they think the customer will pay,” she said.

Seattle, Orlando, Boston, Denver and New York are AAA’s top domestic destinations for Labor Day weekend, while Rome, Vancouver, London, Dublin and Paris lead its international list of destinations.

CALIFORNIA AIRPORT CONSIDERING SCRAPPING POST-9/11 POLICY THAT BARRED GOODBYES AT TERMINAL GATES

Fares to the holiday weekend’s most popular domestic destinations are nearly 20% higher, averaging $790. (iStock)

However, not every travel category is more expensive. 

AAA said international airfare is down 4% year over year. Cruises departing from U.S. ports are 4% cheaper, averaging $2,700 per booking, according to AAA.

For travelers with flexibility beyond the holiday weekend, Frommer said the most reliable way to cut costs is to travel during off-peak periods.

“The best way to save money is always to travel when nobody else is,” she said. “The first two weeks in December is one of the cheapest times of the year to travel almost anywhere.”

She also said some travelers may be able to find lower fares by clearing their cookies and using a virtual private network (VPN) to conceal their browsing history while booking online.

AMERICAN AIRLINES MAKES MAJOR CABIN UPGRADE AS IT BATTLES FOR PREMIUM PASSENGERS

Seattle is among AAA’s top domestic destinations for Labor Day weekend. (Juan Mabromata/AFP via Getty Images)

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Frommer added that travelers can also save by choosing destinations with a lower overall cost of living.

“Usually, if the cost of living is lower in the destination you’re thinking of visiting, the cost of travel will be lower, too,” she said. 

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Three-time NBA All-Star Ben Simmons is returning to professional basketball after agreeing to a one-year, $3.5 million contract with the Sacramento Kings, marking his return to the league following a full season away from the court while recovering from chronic back and leg injuries.

Simmons’ agents confirmed the agreement to ESPN’s Shams Charania and Marc J. Spears on Friday. The 30-year-old missed the entire 2025-26 season after his contract with the Los Angeles Clippers expired following the 2024-25 campaign, during which he did not sign with any team in free agency as he continued working to fully recover from the back issues that had plagued much of his recent career.

According to ESPN, Simmons impressed Kings general manager Scott Perry during a workout in Miami, followed by an hourlong meeting between the two in late August that helped seal the deal. Both the Minnesota Timberwolves and Golden State Warriors had also expressed interest in Simmons, a level of interest that could have led to a potential training camp invite with either team. Ultimately, the Kings were the only NBA franchise to formally offer Simmons a contract.

A source told ESPN that Simmons is excited about the opportunity to play for Sacramento, believing the organization will provide the support and playing opportunity he had hoped for as he works to relaunch his NBA career.

The Kings enter the coming season looking to rebuild after a difficult 2025-26 campaign, in which the team finished 22-60, tying for the worst record in the Western Conference. Sacramento further reshaped its roster this offseason by waiving veteran guard DeMar DeRozan in July and declining to bring back free agent Russell Westbrook, decisions that left the team with a notable gap at the guard position that Simmons’ playmaking ability could help address.

Simmons, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2016 NBA Draft out of LSU, has built a career defined by both significant early success and persistent injury setbacks. After an injury delayed his professional debut by a full year, Simmons won Rookie of the Year honors for the 2017-18 season and went on to earn three All-Star selections and two All-Defensive First Team selections during his time with the Philadelphia 76ers. He was also named to the All-NBA Third Team in 2020, cementing his status as one of the league’s most versatile young talents before injuries began significantly disrupting his career trajectory.

Simmons’ tenure in Philadelphia ultimately ended amid a highly publicized and contentious breakup with the organization, which sent him to the Brooklyn Nets as part of the trade that brought James Harden to the 76ers. Simmons was later waived by the Nets following a contract buyout on Feb. 8, 2025, before signing with the Clippers, where he appeared in 18 games last season while battling continued back issues and playing limited minutes, averaging just 2.9 points, 3.8 rebounds and 3.1 assists during that stretch.

Simmons’ most recent NBA appearance came in Game 5 of the 2025 Western Conference First Round on April 29, 2025, playing for the Clippers against the Denver Nuggets. Over his full 383-game career across the 76ers, Nets and Clippers, Simmons has averaged 13.1 points, 7.4 rebounds, 7.2 assists and 1.5 steals per game, numbers that reflect his elite all-around playmaking ability even amid the physical setbacks that have limited his availability throughout much of his career.

Speaking with Andscape in July, Simmons expressed confidence in his physical condition and readiness to return to the league following his year away from competition, describing himself as feeling as healthy as he had in years. Reports from that same period indicated Simmons had been training and practicing without restrictions ahead of his eventual return, further supporting his belief that he was prepared to rejoin the NBA.

Beyond his NBA ambitions, Simmons has also expressed interest in representing Team Australia at the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles, a goal that would require him to sustain his health and on-court performance over the coming seasons to remain part of the Australian national team’s plans heading into that tournament.

Notably, Simmons has not played more than 58 games in a single NBA season since the 2018-19 campaign, underscoring the significant durability concerns that have followed him throughout his career even as his underlying talent and production, when healthy, have remained evident. His new one-year deal with Sacramento offers both sides a relatively low-risk arrangement, giving Simmons a fresh opportunity to demonstrate his health and continued NBA relevance while giving the Kings a low-cost, potentially high-reward addition to a roster in need of guard depth and playmaking.

Sacramento is scheduled to open the NBA preseason on Oct. 5 against a visiting Los Angeles Lakers squad, followed by a regular-season opener on the road against the Los Angeles Clippers, the same franchise Simmons most recently played for before his year away from the league. Those early matchups will offer an initial glimpse into how Simmons’ game has evolved, and whether his body can hold up, as he begins his latest attempt to reestablish himself in the NBA.

For the Kings, adding Simmons represents a relatively low-cost bet on a player whose ceiling, when healthy, has historically included elite defensive versatility and playmaking that few players at his size can match. Whether Simmons can recapture even a portion of that earlier form after a full year away from competitive basketball remains to be seen, but his agreement with Sacramento gives him a clear opportunity to prove his recovery has been successful as he looks to rebuild his career and NBA standing heading into the 2026-27 season.