OpenAI has launched what may be its most important ChatGPT update yet: group chats, now available globally to all users, including those on the free tier. The feature allows up to 20 people to collaborate with the AI in a shared conversation, marking a major shift from ChatGPT as a solo assistant to ChatGPT as a collaborative workspace.
According to The Tech Buzz, the rollout comes after a brief test phase in Japan, NZ, and other select markets the week before. The fast expansion signals OpenAI’s confidence that group collaboration will become central to how users engage with AI.
The new capability lets multiple participants interact in the same thread, whether they’re planning a project, coordinating travel, co-writing content, or tackling research. ChatGPT can be tagged to join the conversation, contribute ideas, or answer questions, but it won’t interrupt unless prompted. It now reacts with emojis, recognises profile photos, and blends more naturally into multi-person dialogue.
OpenAI has also prioritised privacy. Each user’s memory and settings remain personal, even in group environments. When someone joins an existing group, ChatGPT automatically starts a new conversation so previous messages remain private. Participants create lightweight profiles with names and photos, giving the space a more social feel without heavy onboarding.
In a statement to TechCrunch, OpenAI suggested this is just the beginning: “Over time, we see ChatGPT playing a more active role in real group conversations, helping people plan, create, and take action together.” This points to a broader ambition—evolving ChatGPT into a social, organisational, and creative partner rather than a simple chatbot.
The timing aligns with several recent OpenAI launches. The company released GPT-5.1—featuring both Instant and Thinking variants—less than two weeks before group chats went live. In September, it debuted Sora, a social video creation app with TikTok-style feeds. Together, these moves illustrate a clear strategy: expanding ChatGPT from a text-based assistant into a collaborative, multimedia ecosystem.
This shift lands in a competitive landscape where platforms like Slack, Microsoft Teams and Discord are integrating AI, but none yet offer true multi-user collaboration with an AI agent as sophisticated as ChatGPT. Productivity tools like Notion and Google Workspace have been pushing heavily into collaborative AI, but OpenAI’s direct entry could reshape how teams choose their tools.
The company’s decision to make group chats free is especially notable. Instead of creating a premium-only feature, OpenAI seems to be betting on adoption. If people begin using ChatGPT together—at work, at home, or in creative groups—subscription growth may follow organically through usage rather than restrictions.
Analysts say this is also a strategic response to concerns about “AI fatigue.” By rethinking AI as a shared resource, not a solo assistant, OpenAI is reframing how people might integrate the technology into everyday collaboration.
Early feedback from test markets shows strong interest from research teams, families planning travel, and creative groups brainstorming ideas. Still, questions remain about how well ChatGPT will handle fast-moving conversations and maintain context across multiple contributors.
Even with those uncertainties, the launch represents a turning point. By shifting ChatGPT from a personal tool to a group collaborator, OpenAI is positioning itself at the centre of the next phase of workplace AI. If users embrace the new workflow, the update could redefine how teams work—and force competitors to rethink their strategies in a suddenly transformed landscape.
