New Delhi: OpenAI has added a small holiday surprise to ChatGPT, and it is easy to activate. A hint dropped by OpenAI chief executive Sam Altman led users to discover a Christmas-themed feature that turns a single emoji into a personalised Santa video. The feature came to light after Altman posted a short and unclear message on X over the weekend, asking people to try chatting with ChatGPT using just one emoji.
Soon after, users found that sending the gift emoji triggers a special festive response. Instead of a normal text reply, ChatGPT starts a short interactive process. However, users cannot influence how the video turns out. There are no settings to adjust the style, message, or outcome. The visuals, storyline and final result are entirely decided by the system. This makes the experience feel more like opening a surprise than creating something step by step.
How does it work
After the emoji is sent, ChatGPT asks the user to upload a selfie or take a photo using their camera. Once the image is submitted, the system passes the request to OpenAI’s video generation tool. This tool then creates a short Christmas-themed video that is customised for the user.
The video features Santa Claus delivering a message directly to the user. What makes it different is that Santa’s words and tone are based on patterns taken from the user’s previous conversations with ChatGPT. In some cases, Santa praises the user for being well-behaved over the year and offers a matching virtual gift. In other cases, Santa jokingly calls the user naughty and gives a deliberately underwhelming present. The judgement is meant to be playful and light, not critical.
Limited and seasonal feature
There are also clear limits to the feature. Each account can generate only one video. Trying again in a new chat does not create a new version and instead shows the same result. Some users have noticed that other festive emojis, such as the Santa or Christmas tree emoji, appear to activate the same feature.
The Santa video is clearly meant to be temporary and tied to the holiday season. Still, it offers a look at how OpenAI is shaping the future of ChatGPT. Instead of keeping chat, image creation and video tools separate, the company is combining them into a single experience that unfolds in stages. Here, a simple emoji becomes the starting point for a personal, multi-format interaction.