What’s happened? OpenAI is piloting a new group chat feature inside ChatGPT, allowing you, friends, family, or coworkers to chat together with the AI in one shared conversation.

• You can invite up to 20 people, including ChatGPT, and collaborate on plans, decisions, or ideas in the same thread.
• Group chats are placed in a new sidebar section so all participants can access them easily, and anyone can join through a shared link.
• The feature is powered by the newly released GPT-5.1 model, and rate limits apply only when ChatGPT replies.
• The pilot is now live in Japan, New Zealand, South Korea, and Taiwan, across Free, Go, Plus, and Pro plans.

Steps to initiate a group chat in ChatGPT OpenAI

This is important because: OpenAI is moving from one-on-one to group collaborations. It recently added a group collaboration feature in ChatGPT for teams to share files. The latest group chat update brings ChatGPT into shared spaces where decisions are made, ideas are shaped, and plans are coordinated.

• You can plan trips, work on projects, or debate ideas with ChatGPT chiming in when helpful.
• ChatGPT understands when to speak and when to stay quiet in the chat. It can also react to messages, photos, and use emojis.
• Your private ChatGPT memories stay private, as group chats don’t share your past conversations stored in its memory with others.

Why should I care? If you’ve ever tried planning something with friends or coordinating a project, you know how messy group chats can get with the endless back-and-forth. This update brings everyone and ChatGPT into the same space.

• You can use ChatGPT to settle debates, generate ideas, or handle tedious tasks.
• Shared context means fewer misunderstandings and less repetition.
• It’s useful even for small things like planning a night out or splitting tasks.

OK, what’s next? ChatGPT has been steadily expanding its capabilities by adding tools for browsing and buying with PayPal, planning trips and workouts with partners like Tripadvisor and Peloton, and experimenting with AI-driven web browsing with ChatGPT Atlas. You can also explore creative prompts that help ChatGPT work smarter in your day-to-day tasks.

• OpenAI says this is an early pilot, with more features and wider rollout depending on user feedback.
• If you’re in one of the initial countries, look for the new “people” icon in the corner of a chat to invite others.