Singapore users of ChatGPT are set to get access to a major new feature from OpenAI: group chats where multiple people can collaborate alongside ChatGPT in real time. The move stretches the tool from individual use into a shared social and productivity space.
According to the company, as long as the app is updated, you should be able to see the feature accessible from the top right. If there is nothing, you will need to wait a few days until the global rollout to all users is complete.
What the feature can do
The biggest change is that users can now invite up to twenty people into a single ChatGPT chat. Friends who want to plan a trip, colleagues preparing a proposal or classmates working on a project can all join the same conversation and bring the AI into the mix whenever needed.
ChatGPT remains fully conversational in this setting. Anyone in the room can say “ChatGPT” to prompt the model, and the AI can help by answering questions, generating content, uploading or interpreting images, working with shared files or responding to spoken input through voice dictation. It behaves like a knowledgeable participant who can offer research, structure, reminders or ideas without taking over the conversation.
The feature is designed for real multi-user collaboration. A family planning a holiday can compare itineraries and costs. A home renovation group can share floor plans and get design suggestions. Teams can run brainstorming sessions or build out documents together while the AI helps summarise, clarify or generate visuals. Academic groups can collate research, share sources and have ChatGPT analyse them within one unified space.
Behind the scenes, the system uses a model family called GPT 5.1 Auto. It automatically selects the best available version of the model based on whether the user is on the Free, Go, Plus or Pro plan, ensuring fair access without requiring manual switching between models.
ChatGPT also behaves differently in group settings. It has been trained to understand conversation dynamics by knowing when to join in and when to stay silent. It can react using emojis, reference profile photos and follow the overall flow of the discussion rather than interrupting at random moments. These small social cues make it feel more natural in a room full of people instead of acting like a chatbot that cuts in without context.
How you use it
To start a group chat in Singapore once the feature is available:
- Open the ChatGPT app (web or mobile) and tap the people icon in the top-right of a chat.
- Choose “Start group chat” or convert an existing chat; that creates a new thread and keeps your original chat separate.
- Share the invite link with up to 20 participants who can join. First-time members will set a name, username and photo so everyone knows who’s in the room.
- Use the group chat like a private messenger, and you can request ChatGPT’s help at any time. The AI won’t dominate the conversation; instead, it responds when needed.
Requirements and controls:
- The feature is available to users on Free, Go, Plus and Pro plans.
- It is being rolled out in phases. Though the base blog post does not list Singapore explicitly, it mentions the rollout will expand beyond pilot regions. Singapore is listed among the supported regions for ChatGPT overall.
- Privacy by design: group chats are separate from your private ones, and your personal ChatGPT memory is not used in group chats.
- If someone under 18 joins the group, ChatGPT will automatically reduce exposure to sensitive content for all participants.
While the feature is promising, some familiar limitations apply:
- Not all advanced features are available in group chats yet — for example, some tools like Python/data-analysis are still restricted.
- As with any collaboration tool, data governance and privacy still matter. Even though personal memories are excluded, group data remains visible in the chat and certain controls will evolve over time.
- Performance and availability may depend on plan tier and region as the rollout completes.
How Singapore users might make use of it
In a co-working city like Singapore, the timing makes a lot of sense. Students can form study groups with ChatGPT summarising notes. Startup teams can brainstorm product ideas. Families planning holidays can all join one shared thread where ChatGPT helps with options, budgets and itineraries. Businesses might even use it for multi-person decision-making with AI support.
This is a shift in how we use conversational AI. Until now, ChatGPT has been a personal assistant. With group chats, it becomes a team collaborator. It can sit in a group discussion much like another team member or family member who brings tools, research and structure. That changes the dynamic entirely.
The bottom line
ChatGPT’s new group chat feature brings collaboration into the AI conversation. For Singapore users, it means one shared space where people and AI can work together seamlessly. Once available locally, it is poised to change how students, families, teams and businesses interact with AI — making it less of a solo tool and more of a shared companion.