OpenAI Launches Study Mode in ChatGPT to Enhance Student Learning

OpenAI introduces 'Study Mode' in ChatGPT to foster critical thinking among students.

Key Points

  • • OpenAI launched 'Study Mode' on July 29, 2025, to enhance student learning.
  • • The feature promotes engagement through guiding questions and interactive prompts.
  • • Currently available to Free, Plus, Pro, and Team users, with educational versions coming soon.
  • • No current parental controls or enforcement mechanisms for its use.

On July 29, 2025, OpenAI unveiled a new feature for ChatGPT known as 'Study Mode', aimed specifically at improving educational engagement and critical thinking among students. This innovative mode departs from the conventional model of merely providing answers and instead focuses on prompting students with guiding questions tailored to their skill levels, encouraging them to think critically about the material they are studying.

Study Mode has been introduced in response to growing concerns regarding the use of AI in educational settings, particularly fears surrounding academic integrity and the potential for cheating. The feature is available to all logged-in users across various subscription tiers, including Free, Plus, Pro, and Team versions, with an educational variant anticipated to roll out soon.

Leah Belsky, OpenAI's Vice President of Education, emphasized that this new capability is designed to work in concert with educators and students, stating, "Instead of doing the work for them, study mode encourages students to think critically about their learning." The mode incorporates interactive prompts, quizzes, and Socratic questioning techniques meant to foster deeper connections between concepts than traditional methods.

Early feedback from students testing the feature indicates that it is akin to having an on-demand tutor, progressively guiding users through complex topics. For instance, as reported, one-in-three college students currently utilize ChatGPT, making this update particularly relevant.

Despite the positive direction of Study Mode, its effectiveness may be limited; students still have the option to switch back to the regular mode for straightforward answers, raising concerns about its potential impact on genuine learning engagement. Moreover, there are currently no parental controls or mechanisms for teachers to enforce the use of Study Mode, prompting discussions about future implementations to reinforce its educational purpose.

This launch follows closely behind similar initiatives in the AI industry, such as Anthropic's Learning Mode for Claude. OpenAI aims to further define the role of AI in education, addressing the challenges and opportunities this technology presents in academic environments.