OpenAI Expands ChatGPT With New Global Group Chat Feature
OpenAI officially expanded its group chat functionality to all users on Thursday, moving the tool beyond its initial testing phase. The update is now accessible globally across Free, Go, Plus, and Pro plans, following a brief pilot program that included regions such as Japan and New Zealand.
This announcement signals a significant shift for the platform, evolving it from a solitary assistant into a collaborative environment. The feature is designed to support teams, families, and friends in managing shared tasks, ranging from travel coordination and document drafting to resolving debates and conducting joint research.
How the Group Chat System Works
The system is designed to handle up to 20 participants per session. To initiate a group, users select the people icon and add contacts either directly or through an invite link. Each participant must create a short profile, including a name, username, and photo.
- Privacy: Individual memory and personal settings remain private to each user.
- Conversation Flow: Adding a new member to an existing chat triggers the creation of a new, separate conversation thread, ensuring the original remains untouched.
- AI Interaction: ChatGPT is programmed to monitor the conversation, responding when tagged or when it determines it can assist with summarization, search, or comparisons.
- Engagement: The AI can interact with the group by reacting to messages with emojis and acknowledging specific user profiles.
A Strategic Shift Toward Social AI
OpenAI’s latest rollout is part of a broader strategy to transition ChatGPT from a simple chatbot into a social platform. The company indicated that group functionality is only the first phase in creating a more collaborative, multi-user experience.
“Over time, we see ChatGPT playing a more active role in real group conversations, helping people plan, create, and take action together,” an OpenAI representative noted. This expansion follows a busy period for the company, which recently released the GPT-5.1 model and introduced the Sora social app earlier in September, which allows users to generate and share AI-powered video content.