ChatGPT now supports conversation branching, allowing users to run parallel threads from a single chat without discarding the original discussion.
Users can branch by hovering over a message, selecting ‘More actions’, and choosing ‘Branch in new chat’. A fresh thread begins that includes all messages up to that point, while the original chat remains intact.
This enables teams to explore different approaches from the same starting point—for example, testing formal versus humorous tones or alternative strategies—without overwriting the main conversation.
The update addresses a long-standing limitation of linear dialogues in large language models, where users had to alter prompts or start anew to test different directions. A 2024 study by researchers from Tsinghua University and Beijing Institute of Technology argued such linear interfaces can increase cognitive load during brainstorming and complex analysis.
Industry observers have welcomed the feature, with some comparing it to Git branches: both let you experiment with alternatives while preserving the original work. The development highlights how AI chatbots are tools that can be steered and revised, rather than fixed personas.
