OpenAI tests ChatGPT ‘study together’ feature

OpenAI might be launching a studying tool for ChatGPT, according to eagle-eyed users.

As reported by TechCrunch, ChatGPT users have noticed a new option in the tools dropdown menu called "Study together." Users who seemed to have access to the tool showed screenshots of a conversation that guides the user through a prompt like a mathematical equation or learning a new concept.

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The tool appears to use the Socratic method, where a teacher essentially helps a student learn by asking them questions about the problem and steering them towards the correct answer. If this tool gets a widespread release, it could become a popular study buddy for users that already rely on ChatGPT for many tasks. OpenAI did not respond to Mashable's request for comment.

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Students using ChatGPT and other genAI chatbots for schoolwork, either to cheat on assignments or as a sanctioned tool, has become ubiquitous. Several recent high profile stories have illustrated the widespread use in schools, painting a picture of an education system in crisis as it tries to foster learning while embracing a revolutionary technology.

President Donald Trump's executive order mandating the training and adoption of AI tools in K-12 schools seeks to prepare students for an AI-centric future. But there's also the issue of students cheating themselves out of an education by having ChatGPT do their homework. Many teachers have responded by AI-proofing their assignments, including messages in white font to catch students that copy and paste into ChatGPT, or assigning in-class essays where they don't have access to chatbots. But it's a constant battle.

The launch of a tool that helps users find the correct answer on their own, instead of just asking ChatGPT, might be OpenAI's way of encouraging positive uses.

Disclosure: Ziff Davis, Mashable’s parent company, in April filed a lawsuit against OpenAI, alleging it infringed Ziff Davis copyrights in training and operating its AI systems.