OpenAI just dropped an exciting new feature inside ChatGPT, and it may redefine how students study, learn, and engage with academic content.
It’s called study mode, and it moves ChatGPT beyond just answering questions. Instead, it becomes a patient, adaptive tutor that guides learners step by step through problems and concepts, using pedagogical techniques like Socratic questioning and cognitive scaffolding.
The result? A tool that feels less like a calculator and more like a 24/7, all-knowing office hours session, according to early users.
On Episode 160 of The Artificial Intelligence Show, I spoke with Marketing AI Institute founder and CEO Paul Roetzer about study mode’s implications for users.
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From Homework Helper to Learning Ally
OpenAI built study mode with one big goal: support real learning over quick answers. Instead of spitting out solutions, ChatGPT now prompts students to think critically, reflect, and engage more deeply with material.
“This is great,” says Roetzer. “Two or three years out, this is just how you learn. I think it’ll be adopted pretty quickly.”
OpenAI leaned on insights from teachers and learning scientists to build study mode. The model now walks students through tough concepts using personalized questions, guided hints, and knowledge checks. It adjusts to each user’s level, even pulling from past chats to build continuity.
And the kicker? It’s available free to all logged-in users. Just toggle it on when starting a conversation.
Built for Students, Designed by Experts
Study mode uses custom system instructions layered on top of ChatGPT’s existing model. That means it’s not a new AI model yet, but a smart wrapper that changes how the model behaves. And it’s deeply grounded in learning science.
Key instructional strategies include:
- Socratic questioning
- Cognitive scaffolding
- Metacognitive prompts
- Interactive quizzes and open-ended challenges
So, as of right now, the models that power ChatGPT aren’t changing. But eventually, they will. Writes OpenAI:
“We plan on training this behavior directly into our main models once we’ve learned what works best through iteration and student feedback.”
A Parent’s Perspective: Study Mode in the Real World
Roetzer shared a personal story that brings study mode’s potential to life. His 13-year-old daughter, a budding creative writer, has been exploring ChatGPT to improve her fiction skills. But he didn’t want the AI doing the work for her. He wanted it to coach her, to help her grow.
So he asked study mode to help him build a custom GPT: a creative writing coach tailored for a teenage girl. The result? A warm, encouraging, curious assistant that gives feedback, asks thoughtful questions, and guides skill development.
Roetzer sees a future where parents and teachers can build GPTs for kids that default to study mode behavior. That feature doesn’t exist yet unfortunately, he says.
“Right now, if you go into chat GPT, you pick study mode in a normal conversation, but you can’t set that as the default,” he says.
But he suspects it’s coming soon. And when it does, it could transform how young learners interact with AI.
“I would build GPTs for my kids all day long if I could set them in study mode.”
What Comes Next?
This is just the beginning.
OpenAI says it plans to eventually train these educational behaviors directly into its core models. They’re also exploring features like:
- Goal setting and progress tracking
- Visual aids for complex concepts
- Deeper personalization based on each student’s skills and memory
For now, study mode represents a thoughtful step forward. One that encourages genuine learning, not shortcutting.
