Bug: “Image ready” notification opens chat but generated image is missing

ChatGPT Bugs
1

Environment

  • Surface: ChatGPT mobile app
  • Affected feature: Image generation / completion notification / result rendering
  • Exact app and OS versions at the time: not recorded

Bug

ChatGPT can send a notification that an image is ready, but opening that notification leads to the correct conversation without showing the generated image.

Observed behavior:

  • Notification says the image is ready.
  • Tapping it opens the correct chat.
  • The generation appears to be finished.
  • The UI only shows a completed state such as “Denkvorgang beendet”.
  • The generated image itself is missing.
  • Waiting longer does not make the image appear.

This has happened more than once.

Expected behavior

If ChatGPT reports that an image is ready, the generated image should already be available in the conversation when the notification is opened.

If the result is still being synchronized or rendered, the UI should show a clear pending state instead of reporting completion.

Reproduction

  1. Start an image generation task.
  2. Leave the app or conversation.
  3. Wait for the “Image ready” notification.
  4. Tap the notification.
  5. The correct conversation opens.
  6. The generation is shown as completed.
  7. The generated image is not present.

Impact

The user receives a successful-completion notification but cannot access the result.

This creates uncertainty about whether:

  • the image was actually generated
  • the result was lost
  • synchronization failed
  • the notification was triggered too early

Diagnostics

The failure appears to occur in the handoff between:

image generation completed
→ completion notification
→ conversation state
→ result rendering

The notification should not be sent until the generated result is durably available to the conversation UI.

Acceptance criteria

  1. “Image ready” is sent only when the result is actually available.
  2. Opening the notification always reveals the generated image.
  3. If synchronization is incomplete, show a pending/loading state rather than “completed”.
  4. Reloading or reopening the conversation automatically reconciles and restores the generated result.
  5. A successfully generated image must not become inaccessible after completion.