OpenAI has introduced a group chat feature for its ChatGPT platform, commencing a pilot program in specific regions, including Japan, New Zealand, South Korea, and Taiwan. The new functionality enables direct collaboration among users within the application, according to a company announcement on Thursday.
The group chat capability is accessible to Free, Plus, and Team subscribers across both mobile and web interfaces. OpenAI stated that the pilot phase aims to gather data on user engagement and the utility of group conversations within ChatGPT, positioning this as an initial step towards fostering a more “shared experience” on the platform. This rollout follows earlier reports regarding OpenAI's development of a direct-message-style tool.
According to OpenAI, the new feature maintains privacy standards, with private chats and personal ChatGPT memory remaining entirely confidential. Group chats operate on an invitation-only basis, allowing participants to exit at any time. Most members possess the authority to remove others, although the group's creator retains sole discretion to leave voluntarily. For users under 18, content is subject to filtering, supplemented by additional safeguards and parental control mechanisms.
Users can initiate a group chat by tapping a designated icon and adding participants directly or through a shared link. Groups can accommodate between one and 20 individuals. Adding a new participant to an existing discussion automatically generates a new group, preserving the original conversation. Each group is assigned a brief profile, and all chats are systematically organized within a labeled sidebar for streamlined access.
The group chats integrate functionalities akin to standard ChatGPT conversations, powered by GPT-5.1 Auto, which manages responses. This includes features such as search capabilities, image generation, file uploads, and dictation. OpenAI clarified that ChatGPT’s usage limits, which regulate the number of AI responses per hour, are only applied when ChatGPT actively responds. Messages exchanged exclusively between human participants do not contribute to these limits.
ChatGPT has been engineered to exhibit adaptive engagement within group settings, responding when tagged or otherwise prompted, and remaining inactive when not directly addressed. The AI can also employ emojis and utilize profile photos to generate personalized images for conversations. This development aligns with OpenAI's broader trajectory, following the late September launch of Sora 2, a standalone social media application designed for sharing AI-generated videos, featuring algorithmic recommendations, parental controls, and direct messaging capabilities.
