OpenAI is reportedly preparing to add a Direct Messages feature to ChatGPT, potentially shifting it from a pure AI assistant into a more social experience.
Leaked code and beta versions of ChatGPT for Android suggest the DM feature is being tested under the codename “Calpico” or “Calpico Rooms.” The implementation would mirror earlier DM capability seen in OpenAI’s Sora iOS app.
The shift comes as OpenAI has also added username and profile support in tests, allowing users to upload pictures and create visible identities within the app. Together, these changes hint at ChatGPT evolving into a hybrid of chatbot and social interface.
Privacy is a key concern. Leaks suggest that user chats in DMs may not share memory access with the AI or other users, but the level of encryption and security remains unclear. Critics warn that unless built with strong safeguards, adding social features could risk exposing private conversations.
If OpenAI moves forward, this could reshape how people use ChatGPT — not just as a question answerer, but as a place to connect, brainstorm, and interact. Whether the social turn will boost engagement or invite misuse depends on execution.
