New feature lets up to 20 people chat together with ChatGPT in collaborative, shared AI conversations — free and paid users included.
ChatGPT Gets Social: Group Chats Now Available Worldwide
OpenAI has officially launched group chat functionality in ChatGPT for all logged-in users, including those on Free, Go, Plus, and Pro plans. Previously, the feature was only available in a pilot phase across Japan, New Zealand, South Korea, and Taiwan.
How the Feature Works
- To start a group chat, users can tap the people icon in the top-right corner of the ChatGPT interface.
- Once created, ChatGPT generates a shareable link, allowing up to 20 people to join the group.
- Participants can chat normally or tag “ChatGPT” to request responses from the AI.
- The AI has been trained to pick up when to respond or stay quiet, based on the flow of the conversation.
- It can also react with emojis and take cues from users’ profile pictures.
Privacy and Control
- Group chats are separate from personal conversations, so your private ChatGPT memory does not carry over.
- ChatGPT does not create new memories from group chats, which means sensitive personal details won’t be stored from these shared spaces.
- Users have control over the group: creators can add or remove participants, and anyone can mute notifications.
- For younger users (under 18), OpenAI has built-in protections: content filters apply automatically in shared chats that involve minors.
Why This Matters
- This update transforms ChatGPT from just a one-on-one AI assistant to a shared collaboration tool, making it useful for group planning, team projects, or family brainstorming.
- The move signals OpenAI’s push to make ChatGPT more social and interactive — not just a personal chatbot.
- Since the feature is available to both paid and free-tier users, it broadens access significantly.
