OpenAI has rolled out a new feature to ChatGPT—conversation branching—making it easier for users to explore different ideas or directions without having to lose their original chat thread. Now, when chatting on the web version of ChatGPT, you can go back to any point in your conversation, select “Branch in a new chat” from the more options menu, and instantly start a parallel conversation from that spot. This means you can put a discussion on hold, take a tangent, or try out a different idea, then return to your original thread at any time.
Branching lets users experiment, brainstorm, and compare versions of their ideas seamlessly. You can try out multiple versions of a question, worksheet, or even a recipe, each in its own branch, without erasing or overwriting your main conversation. It works like tracking changes or keeping parallel drafts open, which is particularly useful for teachers, writers, founders, and anyone who juggles different creative pathways at once.
This branching feature is free and available for all logged-in users, but only on the web for now. It’s a simple yet powerful upgrade, supporting more flexible and non-linear thinking within AI-powered chats.
