OpenAI has launched a new ChatGPT group chat feature, marking the company’s first major move toward shared, multi-user AI experiences. The announcement, made on Thursday, introduces a collaborative environment where up to 20 participants can interact with the AI and each other in a single conversation thread.
This update transforms ChatGPT from a personal productivity tool into a versatile platform for group brainstorming, family coordination, educational projects, and small-team collaboration.
How to Use ChatGPT Group Chat
Getting started with ChatGPT Group Chat is straightforward. Users can create a new group by tapping the people icon in the ChatGPT interface and inviting others via direct invite or a shareable link. Groups support between one and 20 members, making the feature suitable for everything from small family chats to larger project teams.
A notable design choice ensures user privacy: when someone is added to an existing one-on-one conversation, a new group chat is created, leaving the original private exchange intact. This prevents unintended sharing of previous dialogue and maintains user confidentiality.
Each group chat receives a dedicated profile and is displayed in a clearly labeled sidebar, allowing users to easily navigate between multiple conversations. The interface remains consistent with the standard ChatGPT experience, minimizing the learning curve while adding powerful collaboration tools.
Beyond basic messaging, the feature integrates the full capabilities of GPT-4o, OpenAI’s latest model. Participants can use real-time web search for fact-checking, generate images to illustrate ideas, upload and analyze documents, and use voice dictation for hands-free interaction. This turns the group chat into a dynamic workspace where AI enhances human collaboration.
Usage limits have also been adjusted for group interactions. ChatGPT’s response caps only apply when the AI generates a reply—messages between participants do not count toward the limit. This allows teams to coordinate freely without exhausting their AI interaction quotas.
How to Access This New Feature
ChatGPT Group Chat is initially available to Free, Plus, and Pro users in Japan, New Zealand, South Korea, and Taiwan. The feature is accessible on both web and mobile platforms.
This selective rollout appears strategically aimed at testing the feature in tech-savvy, high-adoption markets. South Korea, for example, offers strong use cases in education, while Japan presents opportunities for business collaboration. OpenAI has described the release as a “small first step toward shared experiences,” indicating that group chat is viewed as a foundational capability rather than a minor update.
User feedback will play a key role in shaping future iterations. OpenAI is actively gathering input on functionality, safety, and performance before considering a broader release. While there’s no confirmed timeline for global availability, the company’s measured approach suggests that the feature will be refined based on early user experience.
Notably, Enterprise and Team plan subscribers are not included in this initial release. It is expected that organizational versions with administrative controls and compliance features will follow in the future.
Safety and Privacy
OpenAI has implemented several safeguards to address privacy and security concerns in multi-user environments.
A critical protection is the separation of group chats from ChatGPT’s personalized memory system. While the AI can reference context within the active conversation, it does not retain long-term memories from group interactions. This ensures that sensitive discussions in group settings do not influence the AI’s behavior in private chats.
Access to group chats is invitation-only. Users must be added via a shareable link, which prevents unsolicited joins. All participants can view the member list and leave the group at any time without requiring approval.
Age-appropriate protections are also in place. Users under 18 are automatically shielded from sensitive or explicit content. Parents and guardians can also disable group chat access entirely through ChatGPT’s parental control dashboard.
Group administration follows a hierarchical model: the original creator cannot be removed by other members, preventing hostile takeovers. All other participants have equal permissions and can add or remove members (except the creator), balancing flexibility with stability.
Final Words on ChatGPT Group Chat
The introduction of group chat represents a significant evolution in OpenAI’s vision for AI—not just as a tool, but as a collaborative partner in social and professional contexts. By enabling shared AI experiences, OpenAI is exploring how artificial intelligence can support group decision-making, creativity, and learning.
While still in limited release, the feature lays the groundwork for more integrated and socially aware AI applications. As user feedback shapes its development, ChatGPT Group Chat could become a standard tool for teams, educators, and families looking to collaborate with AI in more natural and meaningful ways.
