OpenAI readies ChatGPT Group Chats with custom controls

OpenAI appears to be preparing a Group Chats feature for ChatGPT, enabling multiple users to join a shared conversation and interact both with each other and with the AI in a single chat feed. This approach aligns with what Microsoft recently introduced in Copilot, where users can invite others to a joint session. However, evidence points to OpenAI implementing additional controls, such as the ability to customize the system prompt for group discussions and options to manage when the AI should respond, either automatically or only when explicitly mentioned or tagged.

These settings suggest a focus on structured collaboration, making it easier for teams to coordinate, brainstorm, or solve problems in a unified workspace. For users working together on projects or discussing shared topics, this setup should address the limitations of separate, individual chats and reduce context-switching.

While Microsoft’s Copilot currently limits group features to basic user invites, OpenAI seems to be differentiating by offering more granular management over AI involvement and group behavior. This level of configurability could appeal to professional and academic users looking for tailored collaboration environments.

Given OpenAI’s past pattern of clustering feature releases in December, especially during the “12 days of OpenAI” event, it’s plausible that Group Chats will roll out as part of this seasonal update cycle, likely just before the end of the year. The feature remains unreleased and under development, so its full functionality and limitations are yet to be confirmed. The move would further strengthen ChatGPT’s position as a collaborative productivity tool, potentially increasing its utility for teams and group workflows.