OpenAI has begun a global rollout of ChatGPT group chats, expanding a feature that lets people work together inside one shared conversation. The update is now available to users across Free, Go, Plus and Pro plans, after an initial pilot in regions such as Japan and New Zealand.
The launch signals a shift in how ChatGPT functions. Instead of only speaking to one user at a time, the model can now join friends, families or teams as they plan trips, develop ideas or settle disagreements in real time.
A New Style of Conversation
OpenAI says the feature creates a shared space where up to 20 people can chat, as long as each person accepts an invite. Every participant sets up a short profile with a name, username and photo. Although the space is shared, individual privacy remains intact, since personal memories and settings stay visible only to each user.
To begin a ChatGPT group chat, users tap the people icon and add participants directly or share a link. Adding someone to an existing group creates a fresh conversation, which keeps the original chat unchanged.
OpenAI noted that the model understands when to speak and when to stay in the background. Users can tag ChatGPT whenever they want input. It can also react with emojis and respond to messages that reference a participant’s profile photo.
“Over time, we see ChatGPT playing a more active role in real group conversations, helping people plan, create, and take action together,” the company said.
Turning ChatGPT Into a Collaborative Hub
The update comes just weeks after OpenAI released GPT-5.1, which included new Instant and Thinking versions of the model. The company also launched Sora earlier in the year, a social app that lets users generate videos of themselves and share them on an algorithmic feed.
Together, these moves suggest OpenAI wants ChatGPT to become more than a personal assistant. The company is steering the platform toward a more social, interactive and communal experience — one that encourages groups to think, create and decide together.
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