Students can take a nap while AI works for them? Credit: Alexander Chesarev, Shutterstock
OpenAI’s new Study Mode launched on July 29, 2025. It aims to steer students away from AI-enabled cheating by offering interactive, step-by-step guidance.
But some educators say it’s not enough to fix what many call an “existential threat” to the humanities.
What is ChatGPT’s Study Mode?
According to OpenAI’s official press release, Study Mode is designed to make ChatGPT a more responsible learning tool. It encourages deeper thinking by asking guiding questions, structuring material into manageable sections, and offering knowledge checks tailored to a student’s level.
Robbie Torney of Common Sense Media praised the launch, saying, “Instead of doing the work for them, study mode encourages students to think critically about their learning.”
Study Mode is now available to all logged-in users (Free, Plus, Pro and Team) with ChatGPT Edu access coming soon. It was developed alongside educators, scientists and pedagogy experts to integrate principles like metacognition, curiosity, and self-reflection into AI learning.
ChatGPT critics
Despite its aims, critics point out that Study Mode is optional – students can toggle it off with a click and go back to answer-only mode.
A thought-provoking piece in Vox revealed the messy reality of using ChatGPT during studies. A university teaching assistant admits that AI-generated essays are now so common, enforcing “no AI” rules would mean accusing half the class – sometimes wrongly.
One student at NYU even told their professor, “You’re asking me to go from point A to point B, why wouldn’t I use a car to get there?”
Philosopher of technology Shannon Vallor warned that removing “cognitive friction” with AI could weaken students’ intellectual muscles, “We need a lot of cognitive exercise in order to develop practical wisdom and retain it.”
Vox suggests that rather than banning AI, universities could allow its use with reflection requirements. For example, making students explain in writing how using a chatbot shaped their thinking.
It’s about promoting practical wisdom and helping students develop the judgement to know when and how to use AI meaningfully.
As reported by viraltrendingcontent back in December 2024, ChatGPT scored a 2:1 on a real physics degree paper, highlighting just how capable AI already is when it comes to academic work.
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