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Overview: OpenAI brings group chats to ChatGPT

OpenAI has rolled out group chat support inside ChatGPT for all logged in users worldwide. The feature is available across the Free, Go, Plus, and Pro plans, and it lets one person invite up to 20 participants into a shared conversation.

The group chat system copies an existing chat into a new shared space or lets you start fresh and share a link for others to join. OpenAI says the feature is powered by GPT-5.1 Auto, which picks the most suitable model to respond and decides when to speak unless it is directly mentioned.

What this means for ordinary users

This change moves ChatGPT beyond one to one interactions, making it a tool for small teams, family groups, and friend circles. You can use it to coordinate events, draft text together, summarize decisions, or get research help in a shared context.

Key facts up front: OpenAI, ChatGPT, GPT-5.1 Auto, and the Free, Go, Plus, and Pro plans are central here. Group chats support profiles, emoji reactions, custom instructions, and settings to add or remove participants and mute notifications.

Quick summary of the main features

• Global availability for logged in users on all plans, including Free, Go, Plus, and Pro.
• Groups can include up to 20 people; create one by copying an existing chat or sharing a link.
• Powered by GPT-5.1 Auto; the AI aims to stay in sync with the conversation and will speak only when appropriate or mentioned.
• Profiles with names, usernames, and photos, plus emoji reactions and AI use of profile photos for personalized outputs.
• Controls to add or remove members, mute notifications, and give ChatGPT group-specific instructions.
• OpenAI says group chats will not create or use memories from personal chats; rate limits apply when the AI sends messages.

How group chats work, step by step

OpenAI designed group chats to be simple for people who already use ChatGPT. Here is what the flow looks like.

• Start from any existing ChatGPT chat, or create a new one for the topic you want to cover.
• Choose the option to create a group; the system copies the existing chat into a shared space if you started from a current chat.
• Invite people by sharing a generated link, or add them directly if the app provides that option.
• Participants can set a display name, username, and profile photo. Both people and the AI can use emoji reactions.
• ChatGPT uses GPT-5.1 Auto to decide when to reply. It will respond on its own sometimes, or wait until it is mentioned, depending on the flow of the conversation and the instructions it was given.

Model behavior and practical tips

GPT-5.1 Auto is described as an automated selection layer that chooses which model to use when answering. That means the system can pick a faster or more capable model based on the question and available user entitlements.

Practical tips for getting useful AI participation in a group:

• Give clear custom instructions for the group instance of ChatGPT. Specify tone, length limits, and the type of help you want, such as summarization or action items.
• Mention the assistant when you want it to contribute, to reduce unwanted interruptions.
• Use short prompts or bullet lists to make it easier for the model to produce concise outputs you can review quickly.
• Assign a human moderator for larger groups to steer the conversation and handle any inaccuracies from the AI.

Privacy, memories, and safety controls

OpenAI states that group chats will not draw on memories from users private chats. The company also says group chats will not create new memories from the content in the shared space.

Other controls include the ability to add or remove participants, mute notifications, and share custom instructions with the AI. Access is often controlled by a shareable link which can be reshared by participants unless your organization or configuration limits that.

What to watch out for

• Link based access can be convenient, however it also raises security concerns if links end up where they should not. Treat links like invitations and share them carefully.
• AI responses can be wrong or incomplete. Plan for human review when the chat outcomes matter, such as for financial decisions, legal language, or medical suggestions.
• Rate limits apply when the AI sends messages. That means heavy use of AI replies in a busy group could hit quotas and slow responses.
• Model selection may vary with user entitlements. Some organizations or accounts may see different model behavior based on plan features and limits.

Use cases where group chats are useful

Group chats can simplify coordination tasks that previously relied on separate tools. Examples include:

• Event planning, such as scheduling, budgeting, and task lists for a small team or family.
• Travel planning, where participants contribute preferences and the AI suggests itineraries and summaries.
• Co writing, drafting emails, proposals, or social posts with shared editing and AI suggestions.
• Collaborative research, where the AI helps summarize key points or gather quick background notes for a group discussion.
• Decision making and quick summarization of chat outcomes after a meeting or brainstorming session.

How this compares to existing collaboration tools

Group chat in ChatGPT brings an AI assistant directly into a conversational space. Compare this to common tools:

• Messaging apps like Slack focus on real time chat and integrations. ChatGPT group chats add direct AI participation alongside human messages.
• Document editors like Google Docs focus on shared documents and live editing. ChatGPT provides interactive, conversational assistance that can produce text, summaries, or ideas on demand.
• Project management tools emphasize tasks and tracking. ChatGPT can help generate task lists or meeting notes, but it does not replace task tracking and assignment features in dedicated tools.

Workplace policy implications

Organizations should update policies to cover the use of ChatGPT group chats. Consider these questions when setting guidelines:

• Who can create shared links and who can invite external users?
• Which types of content are allowed in group chats, and which should remain in secure internal systems?
• How will the organization handle inaccurate AI output and record keeping for decisions made with AI assistance?
• Are there training or onboarding steps to ensure staff know how to use and moderate AI participation?

Step by step: setting up a ChatGPT group safely

• Create the initial chat you want to use, or start a new one for the topic.
• Copy that chat into a group, or choose to start from scratch. Review content for any sensitive data before sharing.
• Adjust group settings, such as custom instructions for the assistant and notification preferences.
• Invite people selectively, and warn participants that the shareable link can be reshared.
• Assign a moderator to manage membership and to check AI outputs for accuracy.

Privacy and security checklist

• Avoid sharing passwords, personal identification numbers, and other highly sensitive data in group chats.
• Limit link distribution to trusted participants only, and rotate links if you suspect unwanted access.
• Document decisions that affect operations in secure, auditable systems outside the chat when needed.
• Review the account plan and model entitlements to understand rate limits and available model behaviors.

Key takeaways

• OpenAI has launched group chats in ChatGPT for all logged in users across Free, Go, Plus, and Pro plans.
• Groups support up to 20 participants, profile photos, emoji reactions, and custom instructions for the AI.
• GPT-5.1 Auto chooses when to respond, and OpenAI says group chats will not create or use personal memories.
• Link based sharing makes setup simple, but it also requires careful handling to avoid unwanted access.
• Use the feature for planning, co writing, and summarization, while keeping human review and security checks in place.

FAQ

Who can use ChatGPT group chats?

All logged in ChatGPT users can create or join group chats across the Free, Go, Plus, and Pro plans.

How many people can join a group?

Up to 20 people can be part of a single group chat.

Will the AI remember information from my private chats?

OpenAI says group chats will not use memories from personal chats and will not create new memories from group chat content.

How do I control who joins a group?

Groups use shareable links for access. You can add or remove participants, and you should share links only with trusted people.

What if the AI gives wrong or risky advice?

Treat AI outputs as assistive. Have humans verify important facts and decisions, and keep records in official systems when needed.

Conclusion

OpenAI s group chat feature places an AI assistant inside shared conversations, making collaborative tasks faster and more conversational. The addition of GPT-5.1 Auto means the assistant will try to act at the right moments, and the feature set includes profile photos, emoji reactions, and group specific instructions.

For everyday users, group chats can simplify planning, co writing, and summarization. For organizations and privacy conscious users, the shareable link model and AI behavior suggest a need for basic safety rules, human review of outputs, and clear policies on what belongs in a shared chat. With those precautions, group chats can be a helpful new way to use ChatGPT with other people.