OpenAI has introduced a new “Study Mode” feature in ChatGPT designed to help students improve their critical thinking skills. When this mode is active, ChatGPT asks users questions to check their understanding and, in some cases, will withhold direct answers if the student isn’t engaging with the material.
“Study Mode” is now being rolled out to users registered on ChatGPT’s Free, Plus, Pro, and Team plans. It will also become available soon for Edu subscribers—students whose schools have purchased access for their entire student body.
This feature is part of OpenAI’s efforts to prevent the decline of critical thinking skills among the millions of students using ChatGPT in schools. A study conducted in June showed that people who use ChatGPT to write essays exhibit lower brain activity compared to those who use Google Search or write without assistance.
The widespread use of ChatGPT in schools initially caused concern among educators, leading many US school districts to ban generative AI tools. By 2023, some of these bans were lifted as teachers accepted that ChatGPT would remain a part of students’ lives.
With “Study Mode,” OpenAI aims to make ChatGPT not just an answer engine but a more effective learning tool. In a similar effort, Anthropic launched a comparable “Learning Mode” for its AI chatbot Claude in April.
However, for “Study Mode” to be truly effective, students must choose to use it themselves. Users can switch back to the regular ChatGPT mode at any time if they prefer straightforward answers. Leah Belsky, OpenAI’s Vice President of Education, told TechCrunch that currently there are no tools for parents or school administrators to lock students into Study Mode, though such controls may be considered in the future.
This means that to benefit from Study Mode, students need to be genuinely interested in learning—not just in finishing assignments quickly.
OpenAI considers “Study Mode” the first step toward improving learning with ChatGPT and plans to share more information in the future about how students use generative AI throughout their education.
