ChatGPT Project
What is a ChatGPT project?
A ChatGPT project is a feature available in ChatGPT's web interface (chatgpt.com) that allows you to organize related AI work by defining custom instructions and uploading files that persist across multiple chats within that project. This creates shared context for all conversations in the project, making your interactions with ChatGPT more consistent and tailored to specific tasks.
ChatGPT projects are available with a paid subscription ($20/month) and work similarly to Claude projects.
How do ChatGPT projects create shared context?
Within a ChatGPT project, you can define custom instructions (also called system prompts) that apply to every chat you start in that project. You can also upload files—like example documents, reference materials, or data sets—that can be referenced from any chat in the project.
This shared context means you don't have to repeat the same instructions or re-upload the same files every time you start a new conversation. The project "remembers" your setup, making it easier to work on related tasks over time.
When should you use a ChatGPT project?
ChatGPT projects are useful for:
- Prototyping AI features before building production systems
- Experimenting with different prompts and instructions for a specific use case
- Working on tasks that require consistent reference materials across multiple conversations
- Organizing your AI work by topic or project area
For example, if you're exploring how AI might help analyze customer interviews, you could create a ChatGPT project with instructions about your analysis approach and upload sample interview transcripts. Each new chat in that project would have access to those materials without you having to set them up again.
Learn more:
- Building My First AI Product: 6 Lessons from My 90-Day Deep Dive
- 21 Ways to Use AI at Work (And Build Your AI Product Toolbox)
Related terms: