OpenAI has introduced group chats inside ChatGPT, giving people a way to bring up to 20 others into a shared conversation with the chatbot. The feature is now available to all logged-in users after a short pilot earlier this month, and it shifts ChatGPT from a mostly one-on-one tool to something that supports small-group collaboration.
OpenAI frames the update as a simple way to plan daily tasks with friends, family members, or coworkers, like setting up a dinner, preparing a trip, or drafting an outline together. But the feature may have broader value for work teams that already use ChatGPT for brainstorming, research, and early project discussions.
How the feature works
A group chat begins when you select the “people” icon in the top-right corner of the ChatGPT app. The app creates a new shared space by copying your current conversation, and you can invite others by sending a link. That link can be shared again, allowing people to bring more participants into the discussion.
The first time a user joins or creates a group chat, ChatGPT asks them to set a name, username, and profile photo so the group can identify who is talking. OpenAI says ChatGPT has been trained to “go along with the flow of the conversation,” deciding when to respond and when to stay silent. If someone wants ChatGPT to add something directly, they can mention “ChatGPT” in their message. The model can also react with emojis and use profile photos when creating personalised images.
A settings panel in the top-right corner of the screen lets users add or remove people, mute notifications, or provide custom instructions to ChatGPT. OpenAI says the model will not use memories from personal chats inside group conversations and will not create new memories based on group activity.
Group chats run on GPT-5.1 Auto, which chooses the response model based on the prompt and the options available to the user. Rate limits only apply when ChatGPT sends a message. The rollout follows the recent release of the GPT-5.1 Instant and Thinking models, and earlier launch Sora, a social app for creating short videos.
How group chats may support real collaboration
While the consumer pitch focuses on casual planning, many of the challenges companies face stem from how people share ideas, review drafts, and coordinate in different roles. Group chats may help reduce some of that friction by giving teams a single space to talk with ChatGPT in the loop.
Aligning cross-functional teams
Large organisations work to keep product, design, engineering, and marketing teams aligned, especially at the start of a project. Early ideas can scattered in email threads and chat apps.
In a group chat, everyone can contribute in one place. If someone joins late or misses part of the discussion, ChatGPT can summarise the thread, identify open questions, or help turn the group’s notes into a structured plan. This helps teams move from early debate to action without losing context.
Smoother review cycles
Drafts usually go through long review loops that involve different people using different channels. Comments come in at different times, and it becomes hard to track which version is the current one.
In a group chat, the team can react to the same draft together. ChatGPT can rewrite passages, compare alternate versions, or help clarify feedback, which may speed up work for teams dealing with tight deadlines or frequent updates.
Faster onboarding for new teammates
New team members joining projects that have months of history behind them have to spend time tracking down old messages and files to understand how decisions were made. A manager could add a new teammate to an existing group chat and ask ChatGPT to summarise past discussions, highlight key choices, and show which tasks remain open, reducing the time needed for onboarding.
Coordinating shared tasks
Routine coordination – like preparing an internal workshop, drafting a customer email, or planning an event – often gets slowed down by back-and-forth messages that stretch days. In a group chat, anyone can ask ChatGPT to create a schedule, rewrite a message, build a checklist, or compare options. The group can then adjust the details together without starting from scratch each time.
Organising creative feedback
Creative work can stall when feedback comes in messy or conflicting forms. Designers, writers, and analysts often get comments spread in different channels. Group chats keep all feedback in one place. ChatGPT can group comments into themes, point out contradictions, or propose drafts that reflect what the team wants. The can help reduce rework and steer the group toward a shared direction.
A broader shift in how teams use ChatGPT
The introduction of group chats arrives during a period when many companies are testing ways to bring AI deeper into their workflows. ChatGPT already helps many users draft, summarise, and revise work. Giving teams a shared space may change how early project conversations take shape, especially for organisations experimenting with AI-supported planning and reviews.
The feature does not replace human coordination, but it introduces a shared surface where people can talk to each other and bring ChatGPT into the discussion when needed. For teams dealing with scattered inputs, slow reviews, or rapid context-switching, group chats may offer a simpler way to keep projects moving.
(Photo by Solen Feyissa)
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