OpenAI has begun testing a group chat feature in ChatGPT, allowing users to collaborate directly inside the app. The pilot rollout is live in select regions, including Japan, New Zealand, South Korea, and Taiwan, and is available to Free, Plus, and Team users on both web and mobile.
The company said the test is intended to study how people use multi-person conversations in ChatGPT. The launch follows earlier reports that OpenAI had been experimenting with direct-message-style tools.
OpenAI stressed that private chats and personal ChatGPT memory remain separate from group conversations. Group chats are invitation-only, with participants free to leave at any time, and safeguards are applied for users under 18.
To start a group, users tap the people icon and add participants directly or through a shared link. Each group can host up to 20 people and includes a profile panel, with all conversations organized in a dedicated sidebar.
GPT-5.1 Auto handles responses inside group chats and supports features such as search, image generation, file uploads, and dictation. Usage limits apply only when ChatGPT responds, not when human participants send messages. ChatGPT can also be tagged to join the discussion, react with emojis, and generate personalized images using profile photos.
The rollout is the latest in a series of updates pushing ChatGPT toward more social, collaborative features. In September, OpenAI introduced Sora 2, a standalone social app centered on AI-generated videos with algorithmic feeds, parental controls, and direct messaging.
