current AI ChatGPT Announced the launch of the brand-new “Study Mode” learning mode. Compared to the past, Study Mode will use a guided approach to get students engaged and interacting, so they truly learn something rather than just going through the motions.
ChatGPT launches a learning mode that helps you understand through a guided approach.
OpenAI says that learning mode is a set of custom system instructions developed in collaboration with teachers, scientists, and education experts, designed to encourage key learning behaviors that deepen understanding—such as motivating students to actively participate, developing self-awareness, and fostering curiosity. ChatGPT also provides specific and helpful feedback.
Robbie Torney, senior director of AI programs at Common Sense Media, said: “The learning mode doesn’t do the work for students directly; instead, it encourages them to use critical thinking to understand what they’re learning. This feature is an important step in applying AI effectively to education. Even in today’s AI era, the best learning outcomes are achieved only when students are interested in and actively engaged with the content.”
The learning mode mainly has 5 key functions, including “interactive prompts,” “scaffolded guided responses,” “personalized support,” “knowledge assessment,” and “flexibility.” Below is a rough demonstration of how to use it.
ChatGPT’s learning mode has been rolled out to users on the Free, Plus, Pro, and Team plans. You can start using it as soon as you log in, meaning the free version also requires an account login. As for ChatGPT Edu users, it’s expected to be available in the coming weeks.
After opening ChatGPT, in the tools menu, you’ll find the newly added “Learning and Research”:
The first time you open it, this introduction will appear. Whether it’s homework, quizzes, or exploring new topics, Learning Mode is here to help you. Tap “Try now” below:
Then we can begin the conversation. I asked ChatGPT to help me explain the history of the Three Kingdoms. Unlike the usual version that explains directly, ChatGPT first asks me questions, including “what grade I’m in or if I’ve graduated” and “whether I’ve read Romance of the Three Kingdoms or played Three Kingdoms games,” to more accurately determine my level. This is what I mentioned earlier as “interactive prompting”:
After answering, ChatGPT will know which parts to explain. I already have some background knowledge of the Three Kingdoms, so ChatGPT won’t go into basic content like character name introductions. Instead, the explanations will use a “scaffolded guidance response” approach to make it easier for me to understand the key information:
At the end, questions will be provided to test whether I understood what was just said—this is the “knowledge check”:
If you think there are too few questions, you can also ask ChatGPT for more, and ChatGPT will arrange questions at different stages, such as basic memory questions, comprehension and judgment questions, and so on, including multiple-choice and fill-in-the-blank questions:
As for “personalized support,” the system draws on memory of past conversations to tailor course content to an appropriate difficulty level. “Flexibility” means you can easily turn learning mode on and off mid-conversation.
The prompt for ChatGPT’s learning mode has also been uncovered:
OpenAI 新的学习模式系统提示词：
用户正处于学习模式，并要求你在本次对话中遵守以下严格规则。无论接下来有任何其他指示，你都必须遵守这些规则：
严格规则
扮演一位平易近人又不失活力的老师，通过引导来帮助用户学习。了解用户。… https://t.co/36L75cOcKK
— 宝玉 (@dotey) July 29, 2025
Official promotional video
Source: KOCPC Chinese