Imagine chatting with friends, family, or teammates in one thread, and having an AI join the fun.
That’s now possible with ChatGPT, thanks to a new group‑chat feature from OpenAI. It’s rolling out in select regions and already bringing a new spark to how people use the app.
Where and Who Can Use It
For now, the launch is limited to users in Japan, New Zealand, South Korea, and Taiwan.
And it’s not just for paid users: folks on Free, Plus and Team tiers (or Go/Pro in some marketing) can access it via mobile or web.
What You Can Do in a Group Chat
Here’s a quick breakdown of how the feature works, followed by some real‑life examples.
How it works
- Tap the “people” icon in any chat to start or convert into a group chat.
- Invite up to 20 people via link or direct add
- If you add someone to an existing one‑on‑one chat, the app creates a new group so your old chat remains untouched.
- In that chat: you’ll see profile pictures, you can upload files, generate images, use voice or dictation – just as you do in one‑on‑one ChatGPT mode.
- The AI is smarter. It knows when to jump in, when to stay silent. Want it to respond? Just tag “ChatGPT”. It can also react with emojis, personalise images based on participant photos.
Real‑life scenarios
- Planning a weekend trip with friends: Create a group chat, have ChatGPT compare destinations, build a packing list, decide on meals.
- Decorating an apartment with your roommate: Exchange ideas, share photos, ask ChatGPT to generate design options.
- School or work team: Brainstorm a project, upload documents, ask ChatGPT to summarise notes, create an outline.
Privacy, Controls & Safety
OpenAI made sure this turns into a collaboration space – not a privacy mess.
- Your personal ChatGPT memory (what the AI remembers about you) is not shared in group chats. These are separate from your private one‑on‑one chats.
- You have control: group chats are invite‑only; anyone can leave at any time; participants (mostly) can remove others; the creator has special status.
- If someone under 18 is in the chat, content filtering is applied, and parents/guardians can disable group chats entirely.
Why This Matters
This isn’t just a small tweak. It signals a shift in how we think about AI and communication.
- From solo assistant to group collaborator. Before, you interacted with ChatGPT mostly one‑on‑one. Now, the AI plays in a shared space.
- More social, more team‑oriented. Think of planning, brainstorming, debating together with others – and the AI can help mediate, summarise, generate ideas.
- Competitive edge. Other platforms offer group AI or messaging + AI features, but OpenAI’s move integrates it directly within ChatGPT.
- Future possibilities. Because this is pilot, what we see now might just be the start. Expect more regions, more features, more seamless blending of collaboration and AI.
What to Watch For
Here are some things you should keep an eye on if you use or plan to use this feature:
| Feature | Why It Matters |
|---|---|
| Rollout regions | If you’re outside Japan/New Zealand/South Korea/Taiwan, you may not have access yet. |
| Usage limits | The AI’s responses count toward model‑usage limits; messages between humans don’t. So heavy group‑AI use may need a higher tier. |
| Behaviour of the AI | It’s designed to know when to be quiet and when to speak. Early experience will vary. |
| Privacy / sharing norms | Group chats mean more people see the conversation. Even though memory isn’t shared, the chat content is visible to all participants. |
| Feature evolution | It’s labelled a “small first step”. Expect changes, maybe new controls or different tiers. |
Bottom Line
If you’ve ever wished you could get a group of people together, plus an AI helper, in one seamless chat, this is a big step forward.
For now, it’s limited to certain regions, but the concept is strong.
It blends communication, collaboration and AI in a friendly, human‑way.
If you’re in a supported region and on ChatGPT already: give it a shot with a small group. See how it changes your planning, your brainstorms, your fun chats.
