Microsoft 365 Down for Thousands of Users, Downdetector Shows

General view of Microsoft Corporation headquarters at Issy-les-Moulineaux, near Paris, France, April 18, 2016. REUTERS/Charles Platiau/File Photo
General view of Microsoft Corporation headquarters at Issy-les-Moulineaux, near Paris, France, April 18, 2016. REUTERS/Charles Platiau/File Photo
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Microsoft 365 Down for Thousands of Users, Downdetector Shows

General view of Microsoft Corporation headquarters at Issy-les-Moulineaux, near Paris, France, April 18, 2016. REUTERS/Charles Platiau/File Photo
General view of Microsoft Corporation headquarters at Issy-les-Moulineaux, near Paris, France, April 18, 2016. REUTERS/Charles Platiau/File Photo

Microsoft's (MSFT.O), suite of productivity software was down for more than 16,000 users on Thursday, according to outage tracking website Downdetector.com.

This comes nearly two months after a faulty software update from cybersecurity services provider CrowdStrike (CRWD.O), affected nearly 8.5 million Windows devices, crippling operations across industries ranging from airlines and banks to healthcare, according to Reuters.

"We're investigating an issue where users may be unable to access multiple Microsoft 365 services," the Windows parent said in a post on X.

Microsoft did not immediately respond to queries on the nature and cause of the outage and when it expects a recovery, but its Azure cloud platform said on X it was probing customer reports of a potential issue connecting Microsoft's services from AT&T (T.N), networks.

The telecom operator did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

After the incident reports peaked at around 23,000 for Microsoft 365, there were signs of the issues ebbing. Some users on social media said Microsoft's services were up and running.

About 4,000 users reported issues with AT&T services and more than 16,500 said they had trouble accessing Microsoft's 365 products, as of 9:12 A.M. ET, according to Downdetector, which tracks outages by collating status reports from a number of sources, including user-submitted errors on its platform.



Scientific Testing Continues for First International AI Olympiad in Riyadh

Participants in the first International AI Olympiad (IAIO) continue their scientific tests in Riyadh - SPA
Participants in the first International AI Olympiad (IAIO) continue their scientific tests in Riyadh - SPA
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Scientific Testing Continues for First International AI Olympiad in Riyadh

Participants in the first International AI Olympiad (IAIO) continue their scientific tests in Riyadh - SPA
Participants in the first International AI Olympiad (IAIO) continue their scientific tests in Riyadh - SPA

Participants in the first International AI Olympiad (IAIO) continue their scientific tests in Riyadh as part of the Global AI Summit.

Representatives from 25 countries are participating in the event, which is organized by the Saudi Data and Artificial Intelligence Authority (SDAIA) in collaboration with the International Center for AI Research and Ethics (ICAIRE) and the International Research Center on Artificial Intelligence (IRCAI) in Slovenia, under the sponsorship of UNESCO.
The IAIO tests lasted five hours on Wednesday, during which participants individually answered the questions. The names of the gold, silver, and bronze medal winners will be announced on Thursday, SPA reported.
SDAIA aims to make IAIO a global platform for AI competitions, nurturing talents and enhancing their skills. It is envisioned as a meeting point for scientists and enthusiasts from around the world to exchange expertise, develop skills, and stay updated on the latest advancements. SDAIA also aspires for this Olympiad to be the foundation for its future expansion into other countries, marking a significant step in encouraging young people worldwide to create a new generation with a deep understanding of AI technologies, which have become integral to daily lives and business systems.