Unlike standard ChatGPT, Study Mode employs Socratic teaching methods, asking students probing questions and building exchanges that work toward answers collaboratively rather than providing immediate responses. The company developed the tool after consulting with pedagogy experts from more than 40 educational institutions.
"We can begin to close the gap between those with access to learning resources and high-quality education and those who have been historically left behind," said Leah Belsky, OpenAI's head of education.
Initial testing involved students from Princeton University, the University of Pennsylvania's Wharton School, and the University of Minnesota. Test participants reported positive experiences with the tool's ability to check understanding and adapt to individual learning pace.
Study Mode faces significant limitations that education experts warn could undermine its effectiveness. The tool uses the same underlying large language model as regular ChatGPT, which was trained on vast amounts of internet content including unreliable sources.
"This AI tutor, therefore, more resembles what you'd get if you hired a human tutor who has read every required textbook, but also every flawed explanation of the subject ever posted to Reddit, Tumblr, and the farthest reaches of the web," according to analysis of the tool's capabilities.
The system cannot distinguish between accurate academic information and misinformation, potentially teaching students incorrect approaches or fabricated material. OpenAI confirmed that Study Mode is not limited to specific subjects and can discuss any topic normally available through ChatGPT.
The launch comes as part of OpenAI's broader strategy to rebrand AI chatbots as personalized learning tools. The company recently announced partnerships with major teachers' unions and is positioning AI as a democratizing force that could provide expensive tutoring services to students who cannot typically afford them.
Private tutoring can cost upward of $200 per hour for certain subjects, making it accessible primarily to affluent families. Early research suggests AI models can adapt to individual learning styles and backgrounds, supporting claims about improved accessibility.
Yet the tool includes no safeguards preventing students from circumventing its educational approach by switching to regular ChatGPT when seeking direct answers.
The announcement positions OpenAI in direct competition with other technology companies seeking to establish footholds in the education market, as AI tools become increasingly prevalent in academic settings nationwide.
