OpenAI announced Thursday that all logged-in ChatGPT web users can now create parallel chat threads. Users can click the three-dot menu at the end of any message (next to the thumbs up/down icons) and select ‘Branch in new chat.’ This creates a new conversation thread that includes all history up to that point, while preserving the original intact.

The original conversation stays intact, while the new thread acts like a fork—letting users explore alternate paths, such as testing a different approach or rewriting part of the exchange, without losing the original line of discussion. Since each branch carries its own context, it’s easier to stay organized than juggling multiple new chats. It essentially functions like a filing system where every ‘what if’ idea gets its own folder, giving users creative flexibility while providing ChatGPT with structure and clarity.

For example, a marketing team brainstorming ad copy can now branch into multiple directions to test one version of the content — formal, humorous, or experimental — all stemming from the same initial setup.

Until now, ChatGPT users who wanted to explore different directions faced two options: overwrite part of an existing conversation or start over from scratch. The new feature removes that limitation by supporting what-if scenarios within a single project.

The update also responds to insights from a 2024 study conducted by researchers at Tsinghua University and the Beijing Institute of Technology, which found that linear dialogue interfaces poorly serve tasks requiring multiple layers or subtasks, such as brainstorming, structured knowledge learning, or project analysis. The researchers concluded that linear interaction forces users to "repeatedly compare, modify, and copy prior content", increasing cognitive load and reducing efficiency.

Some developers quickly likened the new ChatGPT branching to Git, the version control system that allows programmers to create separate branches of code for testing. Both systems let users explore variations while protecting the integrity of the main version.

However, OpenAI is not the first to offer the capability. Rival Anthropic has supported conversation branching in Claude for more than a year, with users able to switch between threads via simple navigation arrows.

Many users intuitively treat ChatGPT as if it has a personality or opinions, asking for “its” perspective or interpreting outputs as authoritative. This anthropomorphic framing can limit productivity by steering people toward a single AI-generated answer, rather than exploring different possibilities.

Branching directly challenges that mindset by making it natural to test multiple directions in parallel. A researcher can pursue several hypotheses, a project manager can outline competing strategies, and a creative team can compare tone or style variations — all while keeping every option neatly organized.

Branching also supports decision-making scenarios outside of work. Someone weighing career options, for instance, can explore one branch focused on practical considerations like salary, another considering long-term goals, and a third examining work-life balance. Each conversation remains intact, creating a clear record of different factors to weigh.

Rather than seeing ChatGPT as either a rigid tool or a fictional personality, branching highlights a third role: a medium for exploration. Users can choose whether to treat it like a scratchpad, a brainstorming partner, or both — depending on what sparks their best work.

Not all ChatGPT users approach the system as a tool for strict project structure. For many, the conversational format itself is what makes the AI valuable — a way to think aloud, explore alternatives, and spark new ideas.

For some, including writers and creatives, dialogue is what drives productivity. Treating the AI as a collaborator rather than just a tool makes it easier to refine ideas in real time, compare different approaches, and reach clearer insights. You’re not asking for a single definitive answer — you’re using the dialogue to think better and faster.

In other words, you’re not just exploring tasks — you’re exploring yourself. The dialogue becomes a mirror for your thinking, and branching simply makes that mirror easier to angle in different directions.

For these users, branching does more than organize tasks — it provides structured dialogue for reflection. It turns parallel threads into a way of thinking through possibilities, helping them refine their ideas and arrive at more informed choices.

While branching supports more flexible exploration, ChatGPT remains prone to generating inaccurate or misleading outputs, particularly on underrepresented topics. OpenAI continues to caution that results should be critically evaluated, especially by non-experts, for accuracy.

Q: What is the new branching feature in ChatGPT?
A: It allows users to create parallel conversation threads, branching off from any message while preserving the original chat.

Q: How does it work?
A: Users can click the three-dot menu at the end of any message and select “Branch in new chat” to create a new thread while preserving the original.

Q: Why is branching valuable?
A: It enables users to explore different directions — such as brainstorming strategies or project workflows — without losing prior work.

Q: Has research supported this need?
A: Yes. A 2024 study from Tsinghua University and the Beijing Institute of Technology found linear dialogue increases cognitive load in multi-step tasks.

Q: Do other AI chatbots offer branching?
A: Yes. Anthropic’s Claude has provided conversation branching for over a year.

The addition of branching to ChatGPT reflects a broader evolution in how people interact with AI systems. By supporting parallel exploration, OpenAI is reinforcing the idea that AI chatbots are dynamic mediums for exploration, not fixed personalities or rigid tools.

This shift could make ChatGPT more valuable for both collaborative work and personal reflection. Teams can use branching to streamline project planning or test competing strategies without losing progress, while individuals can use it to compare perspectives, refine ideas, and think more clearly through complex decisions.

It also underscores the competitive race among AI providers, with OpenAI catching up to rivals like Anthropic’s Claude, which already offered conversation branching.

Ultimately, branching highlights the flexibility of ChatGPT: it can be a productivity engine, a brainstorming partner, or a mirror for personal reflection. For both organizations and individuals, that means broader opportunities to harness AI for multi-threaded thinking and problem-solving.

Editor’s Note: This article was created by Alicia Shapiro, CMO of AiNews.com, with writing, image, and idea-generation support from ChatGPT, an AI assistant. However, the final perspective and editorial choices are solely Alicia Shapiroo’s. Special thanks to ChatGPT for assistance with research and editorial support in crafting this article.