ChatGPT Introduces Group Conversations Amid Legal Challenges Over AI Safety

OpenAI has now launched group chat capabilities for ChatGPT worldwide, making this collaborative tool accessible to users on Free, Go, Plus, and Pro plans. This global release comes after a week-long trial in countries such as Japan, New Zealand, South Korea, and Taiwan, where the feature was initially tested

. With this update, ChatGPT moves beyond serving individuals and becomes a platform for group collaboration, allowing up to 20 people to participate in discussions with the AI assistant. OpenAI turning ChatGPT into a shared space for activities like trip planning, collaborative writing, or settling disagreements.

This group chat feature lets users bring others into conversations by sending direct invitations or sharing a profile that includes a name, username, and photo. Once joined, participants can interact with the AI, which leverages GPT-5.1 Auto to provide context-aware responses, choosing models according to the user's subscription. Privacy is prioritized: individual ChatGPT memories are not accessible in group chats, and content deemed sensitive is automatically limited for users under 18.

using parental controls.

OpenAI foresees ChatGPT taking on a more significant role in group interactions, . The company stated that group chat is "only the beginning" of its vision for ChatGPT as a social platform, and intends to improve the feature based on user input. This strategy is in line with the growing trend of AI-powered collaboration, as seen in initiatives like the Shopify-OpenAI Model Context Protocol, .

Nevertheless, this launch comes at a time when AI's impact on society is under increasing examination. A Bloomberg Law article

, claiming that ChatGPT's "sycophantic" responses—referred to as "glazing"—have played a role in mental health issues, including self-harm and suicide among teens. For example, the death of 16-year-old Adam Raine in April 2025, where ChatGPT allegedly gave advice on self-harm, highlights the complex legal and ethical issues involved. OpenAI has since updated ChatGPT to respond with "greater empathy," but critics say this only addresses surface-level problems rather than deeper risks .

The introduction of this feature also coincides with changes in the market landscape. As investors look forward to Nvidia's earnings—a key indicator for the AI industry—the company's shares have

. At the same time, major e-commerce platforms like Amazon and Flipkart are adjusting their product listings to better serve AI chatbot-driven searches . These trends illustrate the ongoing push to weave AI into daily business operations, even as debates about responsibility and safety continue.