OpenAI Launches Study Mode in ChatGPT

On Tuesday, OpenAI introduced Study Mode, a new feature in ChatGPT designed to help students enhance their critical thinking skills instead of simply providing answers. When enabled, Study Mode asks users questions to evaluate their understanding and may refrain from giving direct answers unless students engage with the material.

OpenAI announced that Study Mode is being gradually rolled out to logged-in users on ChatGPT’s Free, Plus, Pro, and Team plans starting Tuesday. The company expects to make Study Mode accessible to its Edu subscribers in the upcoming weeks, primarily targeting young learners whose school administrators have purchased plans for their entire student body.

This development reflects OpenAI’s response to the millions of students using ChatGPT in educational contexts. Research suggests that while ChatGPT can be a helpful tutor for young people, it may also hinder their critical thinking skills. A study published in June indicated that users employing ChatGPT for essay writing exhibited lower brain activity than those using Google Search or no assistance whatsoever.

Upon ChatGPT’s debut in 2022, its widespread use in educational settings raised alarms among educators, leading to generative AI bans in numerous school districts across the United States. By 2023, many of these institutions lifted their ChatGPT restrictions, and educators nationwide began acknowledging that ChatGPT would be a lasting presence in students’ lives.

With the launch of Study Mode, OpenAI aims to position ChatGPT as a valuable educational tool rather than merely a source of answers. In April, Anthropic introduced a similar feature named Learning Mode for its AI chatbot, Claude.

However, there are inherent limitations to the efficacy of Study Mode. Students can revert to the regular mode of ChatGPT if they are simply looking for answers. Leah Belsky, OpenAI’s VP of Education, mentioned to TechCrunch during a briefing that the company is not offering tools for parents or administrators to restrict students to Study Mode. Nevertheless, Belsky indicated that OpenAI may explore implementing administrative or parental controls in the future.

This means that full utilization of Study Mode will depend on a motivated student who genuinely wants to learn rather than merely complete their assignments.

OpenAI claims that Study Mode represents the company’s first step toward improving learning in ChatGPT and aims to provide further insights in the future on how students utilize generative AI throughout their educational experiences.