Request to OpenAI: Please Create a Dedicated Community Space for Non-Developer Users

ChatGPT Feature requests
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I would like to suggest that OpenAI consider creating a separate, standalone community space — not just a subcategory — for users who work with OpenAI tools, especially ChatGPT, in non-developer roles.

Currently, there is no clear or well-structured place for people who use these tools extensively in their daily lives and work without engaging in coding or software development. That includes writers, educators, thinkers, concept creators, and many others who are seriously involved with AI, but not from a technical angle.

Because no such space exists, many of these users have started posting in the Developer Forum. Not because they’re confused — but because there’s simply nowhere else to go. The only alternative options seem to be fragmented social media spaces, which many thoughtful users intentionally avoid. I’m one of them.

The Developer Forum offers a clean, focused environment — which is exactly why people seek it out. But as more non-developers arrive, friction arises. Posts that fall outside development topics can disrupt ongoing conversations and trigger responses that aren’t constructive for anyone.

This isn’t about blame — it’s about fit. The Developer Forum does include a range of discussions, but its core focus is on development and technical work, which is entirely appropriate. However, there is now a clearly growing group of users working with AI in meaningful, serious ways that don’t fall into that category. That growth is visible — not speculative — and has become especially noticeable in the past few weeks.

I’m aware of the forum.openai.com/home space, but it doesn’t appear to host any public discussion either. If there’s already a designated place for non-developer users to engage in conversation with each other, I haven’t found it — and judging by recent activity, many others haven’t either.

A clearly defined, independent space would help everyone:

  • Developer-focused discussions could stay streamlined
  • Non-developers would have room to explore ideas relevant to their work
  • And OpenAI would gain a better view of how its tools are used beyond technical contexts

Thanks for considering this. I believe it would be a meaningful addition to OpenAI’s community infrastructure.

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I want to add my voice to this topic to show my support. I am not a developer, nor do I have any experience with coding or even IT beyond experience built from years of using all iterations of Windows, and building my own PCs.

It took a bit of convincing (from GPT no less, haha), that I should post my thoughts on this forum because it assured me that OpenAI does look for user input from people who are not IT-buffs or developers or come from the technical side of things.

I hope it (he) was right, because I just posted something.

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Have you seen the OpenAI Discord community? I think that might be better for what you’re looking for — it’s the official community for ChatGPT / Sora / models!

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Hi Edwin Arbus,

Thank you for your quick response and the suggestion to join the OpenAI Discord community. I appreciate the pointer!

However, I believe there’s a misunderstanding about the core issue raised in the original post, and it’s a point that others have also highlighted. While the Discord server is a valuable resource for real-time chat and quick questions, it doesn’t address the specific need for a structured, searchable, and asynchronous discussion space dedicated to non-developer users of OpenAI tools.

The original post specifically mentioned the limitations of fragmented social media spaces (which would include Discord), and a key reason why some users are posting in the Developer Forum: there is no other suitable space provided by OpenAI that caters to in-depth, non-technical discussions. The issue isn’t confusion about where to go; it’s that a forum-style platform dedicated to these needs doesn’t exist.

Discord is excellent for:

  • Quick questions and answers: Getting help with immediate, specific issues.
  • Real-time interaction: Chatting with other users in a casual setting.
  • Community building: Networking and making connections.

However, it’s not well-suited for:

  • In-depth, thoughtful discussions: The constant stream of messages makes it difficult to follow complex conversations and engage in nuanced debate.
  • Knowledge archiving and retrieval: Finding past discussions on Discord is notoriously difficult, especially in active channels. Valuable insights get lost in the flow.
  • Structured, topic-based organization: While Discord has channels, they don’t offer the same level of organization and hierarchy as a forum with threads and subforums.
  • A “noise-free” environment: Discord can be prone to off-topic chatter, memes, and other distractions, which can make it difficult to focus on serious discussions.

What many users are looking for is a space that prioritizes:

  • Asynchronous communication: The ability to post and respond to messages at our own pace, without the pressure of real-time interaction.
  • Structured discussions: Clear threads and subforums that make it easy to follow conversations and find relevant information.
  • Searchability and archiving: The ability to easily search for past discussions and build a lasting knowledge base.
  • A focused environment: A space dedicated to thoughtful, in-depth discussions about the use of OpenAI tools in non-technical contexts, without the distractions of a general-purpose chat platform.

Essentially, the request is for a forum, not a chat room. The Developer Forum is almost the right place, due to its structured nature and focus on OpenAI tools, but its core audience is developers, and non-technical discussions are sometimes a distraction. Directing users to Discord is simply moving the problem to a different, and in many ways less suitable, platform.

Could you please pass this feedback on to the relevant team at OpenAI? It would be incredibly valuable to have a dedicated forum space for non-developer users, where meaningful discussions can be held, experiences can be shared, and users can learn from each other. This would not only benefit those users, but also provide OpenAI with valuable insights into how its tools are being used outside of traditional development contexts. I believe a well-moderated forum would fulfill a crucial need that is not currently being met.

Thank you for considering this.

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