OpenAI Launches ‘Study Mode’ to Stop University AI Cheating
OpenAI has launched a new Study Mode feature within ChatGPT, designed to guide students through problems step-by-step, rather than providing direct answers.
The announcement comes as educational institutions around the world consider their approaches to AI, with thousands of UK university students recently caught using ChatGPT to complete coursework.
"When ChatGPT is prompted to teach or tutor, it can significantly improve academic performance," says Leah Belsky, Vice President of Education at OpenAI, during a company briefing.
"But when it's just used as an answer machine, it can hinder learning."
Growing evidence of AI’s impact on education
Recent research from MIT has highlighted the cognitive risks associated with an over-reliance on AI tools.
The study found that ChatGPT users showed significantly reduced neural activity and mental engagement compared to those working without technological assistance.
MIT’s researchers also observed that AI-assisted essays were often described by English teachers as "soulless" and lacking fresh perspective.
Dr Craig Reeves, Senior Lecturer at London's Birkbeck University, believes many institutions are concealing the scale of AI misuse due to financial pressures.
"The real motivation may be that institutions relying on high-fee-paying international cohorts would rather not know; the motto is 'see no cheating, hear no cheating, lose no revenue'," he says.
Academic literacy under threat
US educators share similar concerns about the long-term implications for student competency.
Troy Jollimore, Ethics Professor at Cal State Chico, warns that widespread AI dependency could create a generation of graduates lacking fundamental skills.
"Massive numbers of students are going to emerge from university with degrees, and into the workforce, who are essentially illiterate," he explains.
"Both in the literal sense and in the sense of being historically illiterate and having no knowledge of their own culture, much less anyone else's."
Brian Patrick Green, tech ethics scholar at Santa Clara University, echoes these concerns about generational learning impacts.
"We're talking about an entire generation of learning perhaps significantly undermined here," he says.
Study Mode's targeted approach
Today, one in every three university students is using ChatGPT. It is this cohort that Study Mode is designed for.
Rather than providing immediate answers, Study Mode presents guiding questions to help students work through homework problems, test preparation and new subject material themselves.
The company developed the feature in collaboration with teachers, scientists and education experts through its ChatGPT Lab programme, with the aim of promoting critical thinking.
The feature is now fully available to Free, Plus, Pro and Team users, with ChatGPT Edu access planned for the coming weeks.
The future of higher education
The launch creates an interesting juxtaposition with recent comments from OpenAI CEO Sam Altman about traditional education's relevance.
Sam, who dropped out of Stanford University, recently suggested his young child will "probably not" attend college when they come of age.
Despite these views, OpenAI continues expanding its academic partnerships through products like ChatGPT Edu, launched specifically for universities last year.
The study mode announcement represents what OpenAI describes as "a first step in a longer journey to improve learning in ChatGPT".
However, questions remain about whether technological solutions can address the fundamental concerns raised by educators about AI's impact on critical thinking and academic integrity.
Study Mode does not prevent students from copying their work from ChatGPT wholesale, but it does provide them with an alternative that can challenge their understanding of subjects more thoroughly.
Whether or not they will opt to use it remains to be seen.
