Microsoft Azure's OpenAI service is set to shut down on October 21 due to local regulatory requirements in China.

Developers were notified of the shutdown via email on the morning of October 17, leaving them with only four days to adapt.

This abrupt change has drawn criticism from developers who feel the notice period is insufficient.

One developer highlighted that the loss of personal identity access to OpenAI represents a significant setback for compliant usage in China.

Looking ahead, only enterprise customers in mainland China will have the ability to subscribe to Azure's OpenAI services.

As of now, Microsoft has not released an official statement regarding the impending shutdown.

In the broader context, the situation underscores the need for a rational approach to emerging technologies like blockchain and the associated risks with virtual token issuances.