OpenAI hit the headlines on Tuesday with the announcement of a new application, called Study Mode, which has been integrated into ChatGPT. This innovative feature is designed to empower students to enhance their own analytic abilities, moving them beyond merely seeking answers to their questions, and encouraging them to deeply engage with the study material.

Upon activating Study Mode, users will find ChatGPT forming questions to challenge their comprehension. In certain scenarios, it might even abstain from providing straightforward solutions, urging students to think and engage more vigorously.

OpenAI is preparing to introduce Study Mode across various subscription levels of ChatGPT (Free, Plus, Pro, and Team) for all the users who have logged in, starting from Tuesday. The company is also planning to make Study Mode accessible to the Edu subscribers, primarily students whose educational institutions have procured plans for the entire student population, in the ensuing weeks.

Study Mode represents the concerted effort of OpenAI to cater to the vast student population that relies on ChatGPT for their academic needs. Research studies have established that ChatGPT can serve as a valuable learning guide for students. However, it could also potentially compromise their critical thinking abilities. An interesting finding of a research paper published in June suggested that individuals demonstrating lower brain activity while writing essays are likely users of ChatGPT, when contrasted with those who rely on Google Search or do not use any aid.

Post its launch in 2022, ChatGPT was quickly adopted in schools, which however raised concerns among educators, eventually leading to the prohibition of generative AI in several American school districts. By 2023, some schools revoked their restrictions on ChatGPT, and teachers nationwide seemed to accept that ChatGPT was here to stay in students' lives.

With the recent introduction of Study Mode, OpenAI is optimistic about enhancing the functionality of ChatGPT, transforming it from a tool that merely dispenses answers to one that boosts learning endeavors. A similar feature, known as Learning Mode, was developed by Anthropic for its AI chatbot Claude in April.

Of course, the effectiveness of Study Mode is not without limitations. Students might easily switch back to the standard ChatGPT mode if they're interested in obtaining instant answers. OpenAI's Education Vice President, Leah Belsky, clarified in a briefing with TechCrunch that currently, there aren’t any tools available for parents or administrators to enforce the use of Study Mode. However, she hinted at the potential introduction of parental or administrative control features in due course.

Essentially, the effectiveness of Study Mode hinges on the student's commitment to active learning, not merely assignment completion.OpenAI regards the introduction of Study Mode as their maiden endeavor towards fostering effective learning via ChatGPT. They aspire to share more details in future regarding students' utilization of generative AI throughout their academic journey.