OpenAI launches Study Mode for student learning

OpenAI launched Study Mode this week, a new feature in ChatGPT designed to support students’ critical thinking.

Instead of giving direct answers, ChatGPT will now prompt students with follow-up questions, encouraging deeper engagement.

The feature is now available for logged-in users on Free, Plus, Pro, and Team plans, and will soon expand to Edu users.

The move comes as studies spotlighted concerns that ChatGPT might hurt students’ analytical skills. 

A June study found that users relying on ChatGPT showed less brain activity than those using Google or no tools. With Study Mode, the AI startup hopes to promote learning, not shortcutting assignments.

However, students can still bypass the feature, and OpenAI isn’t yet offering admin controls to lock it in. OpenAI’s VP of Education, Leah Belsky, said controls could come later.

Rival Claude from Anthropic launched a similar Learning Mode earlier this year.