OpenAI pilots group chats in ChatGPT — collaborative conversations with GPT-5.1 Auto

OpenAI has begun pilot testing group conversations inside ChatGPT in Japan, South Korea, Taiwan and New Zealand. The feature lets you create group chats that include one to 20 people plus ChatGPT, so the assistant can participate in planning trips, brainstorming renovation projects, recommending restaurants, or helping collaborators draft reports.

Group chats are started by tapping the people icon in any new or existing conversation. When created from an existing chat, the new group begins without prior chat history. Organizers can add participants directly or share an invite link; anyone with the link can invite others. Participants must create a profile (name, username and photo) and can mute or remove others — except the group creator.

How ChatGPT works in groups

• Model: Responses in group chats are powered by GPT-5.1 Auto, which can select the best model for a prompt and was trained to follow group conversation flow (knowing when to stay silent or when to reply).
• Summoning the assistant: ChatGPT participates when invoked (mentioning “ChatGPT”) or when it determines a helpful response is appropriate.
• Safety for minors: If anyone in the chat is under 18, ChatGPT automatically limits sensitive content for the whole group.

Privacy, moderation and rollout

OpenAI says it will refine the feature based on tester feedback before a wider release. Important details remain to be clarified publicly, including how group chat data is stored, shared, or used to improve models, and what moderation tools are available to prevent misuse. Because the pilot is limited to specific countries, global availability and exact timelines are unknown.

Why this matters

Adding group chats to ChatGPT moves the assistant from a solo productivity tool to a collaborative participant in shared planning and work. That could accelerate how teams brainstorm, plan events or coauthor documents — but it also raises new privacy and moderation questions since multiple humans and the AI share a conversation space.

For those interested in early access or to follow the pilot, check OpenAI’s updates (opens in a new tab): openai.com. Coverage of the pilot is also available from outlets tracking the rollout (opens in a new tab): Engadget.

Discussion: Would you use ChatGPT in group chats for planning or work collaboration, or do privacy and moderation concerns make you hesitant? What controls would you want before trying it?