New ChatGPT Feature Challenges Students to Learn, Not Just Copy

News Desk

San Francisco: OpenAI has unveiled a new feature in ChatGPT called Study Mode, designed to foster deeper learning and critical thinking among students using the platform.

Announced on Tuesday, the feature encourages users to engage more thoughtfully with educational material by prompting questions to test comprehension and, in some cases, withholding direct answers unless the student demonstrates effort or interaction.

Study Mode is being gradually rolled out to logged-in users across all ChatGPT plans, including Free, Plus, Pro, and Team tiers. OpenAI has also confirmed plans to expand the feature to its ChatGPT Edu subscribers — school-managed accounts tailored for students in the coming weeks.

The launch comes amid ongoing debates about the role of generative AI in education. Since its debut in 2022, ChatGPT has sparked both interest and controversy in academic settings, with some institutions initially banning its use over concerns that it hampers learning.

By 2023, however, many schools had reversed course, choosing to explore constructive integration of the tool into classroom instruction.

In a briefing with TechCrunch, OpenAI’s Vice President of Education, Leah Belsky, addressed concerns around passive learning. “We want to transform ChatGPT from an answer engine into a learning partner,” she said, noting that Study Mode is part of a broader effort to promote active engagement with educational content.

The feature’s launch follows a June study indicating that students who relied solely on ChatGPT for essay writing exhibited lower brain activity compared to those using traditional search engines or working independently. The findings have raised alarms about AI’s long-term impact on cognitive development.

While Study Mode marks a significant shift, it remains an opt-in tool. Students can toggle back to standard ChatGPT mode at any time, and the feature currently lacks parental or administrative controls to mandate its use. Belsky acknowledged this limitation and said OpenAI is considering adding such controls in future iterations.

The initiative mirrors a similar move by AI rival Anthropic, which introduced Learning Mode for its Claude chatbot earlier this year.

Despite its voluntary nature, OpenAI views Study Mode as a foundational change in how generative AI is used in education. “This is just the beginning,” the company said, adding that it plans to release further research on how students interact with AI as part of their learning process.