OpenAI Introduces Group Chat Feature to Boost Collaborative Use of ChatGPT

A new “Group Chat” feature has been rolled out by OpenAI for ChatGPT, allowing multiple users to collaborate, plan and make decisions within a single shared conversation. The launch was introduced shortly after the company released its GPT-5.1 update on November 14, 2025, and is being positioned as a major expansion of ChatGPT’s collaborative capabilities.

The feature has been made available to users of ChatGPT Free, Go, Plus and Pro plans on both mobile and web platforms. However, access has been restricted initially to select regions, including Japan, New Zealand, South Korea and Taiwan. It has been stated by OpenAI that the rollout would be expanded to more countries and later to ChatGPT Business and Enterprise plans.

According to the company’s blog post, the feature has been designed to allow groups of friends, families, colleagues or students to work together in a shared space where ideas can be exchanged, plans can be created and decisions can be made with the assistance of ChatGPT. Trip planning, itinerary building and drafting of outlines or research notes have been mentioned as examples of how the feature can be used.

To create a group chat, a new or existing conversation must be opened and the people icon in the top-right corner must be clicked. When a person is added to an existing chat, a separate group chat is automatically created as a new copy, ensuring that the user’s previous private conversation is kept separate. A unique URL is then generated, which can be shared with others for joining the group. To join, the recipient of the link must click on it and then set up a profile with a name, username and photo before participating in the conversation.

A maximum of 20 users has been permitted in each group chat. ChatGPT responds contextually to the flow of discussion, and direct questions must be addressed to the chatbot by mentioning @ChatGPT. Features such as emoji reactions, message replies and profile photo visibility have also been included to make group communication smoother.

OpenAI has clarified that personal ChatGPT memory is not used in group chats. Separate custom instructions are assigned for group conversations, and private preferences or stored details are not shared with any group member, ensuring a clear separation between private and shared interactions.

Several benefits for the public have been highlighted through this rollout. Collaboration within a single platform is enabled, reducing the need for multiple applications while planning trips, organising events or working on group assignments. Faster decision-making is made possible through ChatGPT’s ability to compare options, generate ideas, create lists and draft plans instantly. The privacy-focused design ensures that personal data and individual chat histories are not displayed or reused. The simple link-based joining process makes the feature accessible even for users who are less familiar with technology. Students are able to collaborate on assignments or research, families can plan events easily and small teams or freelancers can work together on outlines, documents or projects directly within the group chat. Features such as message reactions, typing indicators and threaded replies further improve communication, while transparent viewing of past messages ensures that new members can follow the discussion without losing context.

Through this feature, ChatGPT is being positioned as a more collaborative and organised space where groups can work, plan and communicate efficiently with AI assistance, offering a streamlined experience for both personal and professional use.