ChatGPT Rolls Out Global Group Chats — Turning AI Into a Collaborative Space

By Future TECH Bites Newsdesk

Published: November 20, 2025

OpenAI has officially launched global group chats inside ChatGPT, opening the feature to all users across the Free, Go, Plus, and Pro plans. The update comes just a week after early testing in limited regions like Japan and New Zealand — and now marks one of the biggest functional upgrades ChatGPT has received this year.

With this release, ChatGPT evolves from a one-to-one AI assistant into something more dynamic: a shared collaborative environment where users can think, plan, debate, and create together with AI playing an active supporting role.

A New Way for Groups to Work With AI

OpenAI says group chats are designed to help people coordinate complex tasks in a more natural way. Instead of individual chats, users can now invite up to 20 participants into a shared conversation where everyone sees the same messages and can interact with ChatGPT in real time.

According to OpenAI, this new feature is ideal for:

Planning trips as a group
Co-writing documents
Comparing research or data
Settling debates
Brainstorming ideas
Making decisions together

ChatGPT can summarize, search, compare options, and offer suggestions — but only when it’s needed. The model is designed to “know when to jump in and when to stay quiet,” ensuring it doesn’t dominate the conversation.

Users can also tag @ChatGPT to force a response, and the AI can now react to messages with emojis or make references to the profile photos inside the chat.

Privacy Built Into the Experience

Each participant’s memory settings and personal preferences remain private, even inside a shared conversation. OpenAI emphasizes that while the chat is shared, personal data and personalized memories stay tied to the individual account.

Another important detail:
Adding someone new doesn’t bring them into an old conversation. Instead, the system creates a brand-new chat, keeping the original thread intact.

How to Start a Group Chat

Starting a group conversation is simple:

Tap the People icon inside ChatGPT
Add participants manually or share an invite link
Each participant will be prompted to set a mini-profile with:
- Name
- Username
- Photo

From there, the shared workspace goes live instantly.

Part of a Bigger Vision for Social AI

This update is not just a feature release — it signals OpenAI’s growing ambition to make ChatGPT more than a solitary tool. The company says group chats are “just the beginning” of transforming ChatGPT into a collaborative platform, not just an assistant.

“Over time, we see ChatGPT playing a more active role in real group conversations, helping people plan, create, and take action together,”
OpenAI wrote in an announcement to TechCrunch.

This development also sits alongside two major milestones from OpenAI this year:

1. The Release of GPT-5.1

A more powerful version of the model, introduced with BOTH “Instant” and “Thinking” modes for faster or deeper reasoning.

2. The Launch of Sora, a Social Video App

A TikTok-style platform where users generate and share AI-made videos featuring themselves and friends.

Together, these updates paint a clear picture of OpenAI’s direction:
AI that is social, collaborative, and integrated into everyday interactions.

A New Era of Shared AI Experiences

The introduction of global group chats marks a shift in how people interact with AI — no longer a private assistant but a tool that can mediate, support, and enhance group dynamics.

Whether it’s planning a weekend escape, collaborating on research, or brainstorming startup ideas, ChatGPT is positioning itself as an active member of the conversation — one that can think, summarize, suggest, and help teams move faster.

For millions of users worldwide, this update transforms ChatGPT into something entirely new:
a collective intelligence workspace.