OpenAI Introduces ChatGPT Group Chats in Select Asian Markets
OpenAI has unveiled a new group chat feature for ChatGPT, currently in pilot testing across Japan, New Zealand, South Korea, and Taiwan. This initiative allows users to collaborate directly within the ChatGPT app, enhancing the platform’s interactive capabilities.
The group chat functionality is accessible to Free, Plus, and Team users on both mobile and web platforms. OpenAI aims to explore user engagement with group conversations through this pilot, gathering feedback to refine and potentially expand the feature to additional regions.
This development follows earlier reports of OpenAI testing direct-message-style tools, indicating a broader strategy to enhance ChatGPT’s social interaction features. The company describes this pilot as an initial step toward creating a more shared experience within the app.
Key Features of ChatGPT Group Chats:
– Privacy and Control: Private chats and personal ChatGPT memory remain confidential. Group chats are invitation-only, with members free to leave at any time. Most participants can remove others, though the group’s creator can only leave voluntarily. For users under 18, content is filtered, with additional safeguards and parental controls in place.
– Ease of Use: Starting a group chat is straightforward. Users can tap the people icon to add participants directly or share a link. Groups can include one to 20 people. Adding someone to an existing chat creates a new group, preserving the original conversation. Each group has a short profile, and all chats are organized in a labeled sidebar for easy access.
– Functionality: Group chats function similarly to regular ChatGPT conversations but involve multiple participants. GPT‑5.1 Auto handles responses and includes features such as search, image generation, file uploads, and dictation. In group chats, ChatGPT’s usage limits—restricting the number of AI responses per hour—only apply when ChatGPT responds. Messages between human participants do not count toward these limits.
ChatGPT has also been enhanced with new social skills for group chats, understanding when to participate and when to remain silent. Users can tag ChatGPT to prompt a response. The AI can react with emojis and use profile photos to create personalized images for the conversation.
This group chat feature represents the latest step in OpenAI’s gradual transformation of ChatGPT from a simple AI assistant into a more social platform. In late September, the company launched Sora 2, a standalone social media app with a TikTok-style feed for sharing AI-generated videos, complete with algorithmic recommendations based on user activity and location, parental controls, and direct messaging capabilities.
OpenAI’s expansion into group chat functionality aligns with a broader trend in the AI industry. For instance, in October 2023, Character.AI introduced group chats where users and multiple AI characters can interact simultaneously, allowing for dynamic and engaging conversations.
The introduction of group chats in ChatGPT also reflects OpenAI’s commitment to data privacy and security. Earlier this year, the company launched a data residency program in Asia, enabling organizations to meet local data sovereignty requirements while using OpenAI’s products. This program allows data to be stored at rest in supported countries, including Japan, India, Singapore, and South Korea.
As OpenAI continues to innovate and expand its offerings, the pilot group chat feature in ChatGPT marks a significant step toward creating a more interactive and collaborative AI experience. User feedback from this pilot will be instrumental in shaping the future development and expansion of this feature to other regions and user groups.
