ChatGPT launches pilot group chats across Japan, New Zealand, South Korea, and Taiwan

OpenAI has rolled out a new group chat feature for ChatGPT, currently in a testing phase across Japan, New Zealand, South Korea, and Taiwan. This innovative tool allows users to collaborate seamlessly within the app, available for Free, Plus, and Team users on both mobile and web platforms. The pilot program aims to gather insights into how users engage in group conversations, marking a significant step towards enhancing the collaborative experience on ChatGPT. This development follows earlier indications that the company was exploring a messaging feature akin to direct messaging. Early adopters of the group chat will have the opportunity to provide feedback, which OpenAI believes will be crucial in refining the feature before a wider rollout. OpenAI assures users that private chats and personal memories within ChatGPT remain confidential. Group chats operate on an invitation-only basis, allowing members to exit at any time, while most participants can remove others from the conversation. However, the creator of the group can only leave voluntarily. For users under the age of 18, content will be filtered with additional safeguards and parental controls implemented. Initiating a group chat is straightforward: simply tap the people icon and invite participants either directly or via a shared link. Groups can accommodate between one and twenty individuals, and adding someone to an existing chat will create a new group without altering the original conversation. Each group features a brief profile and all chats are organized in a clearly labeled sidebar for easy navigation. The group chat experience mirrors standard ChatGPT interactions, but with the added dynamic of multiple participants. The upgraded GPT-5.1 Auto manages responses and incorporates various functionalities like search, image generation, file uploads, and dictation. Importantly, ChatGPT’s usage limits—determining how many AI responses users can receive each hour—apply only when the AI responds, with messages exchanged between human participants not affecting these limits. The AI has been enhanced to exhibit social skills suitable for group discussions, including knowing when to interject. Users can tag "ChatGPT" for responses, and the AI can express reactions using emojis and create personalized images based on profile photos. This group chat feature signifies OpenAI's ongoing evolution from a basic AI assistant to a more interactive social platform. Recently, the company also launched Sora 2, a standalone social media application featuring a TikTok-style feed for sharing AI-generated videos, complete with algorithmic recommendations tailored to user behavior and location, as well as integrated parental controls and messaging capabilities.