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AI isn’t just for tech enthusiasts anymore—it’s now as fundamental to studying as a notebook or highlighter. Both OpenAI and Google recognize this shift and are promoting smarter ways to learn. However, not all “study modes” are equally effective, as I discovered firsthand.
If you haven’t noticed yet, AI has become a core part of studying—sometimes for genuine learning, other times for quick shortcuts, but it’s clear that it’s here to stay. Everyone uses AI for studying, and yes, many also rely on it to cheat on assignments. I won’t pretend I haven’t done both. The important thing is, these tech giants understand this reality, and their new student-oriented features aren’t just for show.
OpenAI and Google have introduced their own dedicated study tools: ChatGPT’s Study Mode and Gemini’s Guided Learning. Both aim to simplify learning by employing the Socratic method—asking the right questions and guiding you to answers rather than just giving them outright.
Despite the branding, these tools aren’t exclusive to students. Learning isn’t an elite club—anyone who’s ever been stumped by a problem can benefit from these features.
I’ve already tested ChatGPT’s Study Mode, but with Gemini’s Guided Learning now available, it was time to see which one truly lives up to the hype. As someone who’s spent a considerable amount of time using ChatGPT and Google’s NotebookLM (which, to be fair, is excellent), I was genuinely curious if Gemini could take the top spot.
To keep it real, I challenged both AIs with questions from my own coursework. I’m in a PharmD program, but more important than the subject matter was how each AI performed in teaching—regardless of what they’re tackling.
The results were surprisingly revealing. Just because both claim to help you learn faster doesn’t mean they’re equally effective.
The first question was simple—any of my classmates would know it. Once I remembered what MIC was, the answer became clear. Gemini responded prematurely, giving me the answer right away, which defeated the purpose of guided learning. Then, it got confused and responded to a reply I hadn’t even made. To its credit, Gemini apologized, but then it hallucinated my response and continued off-topic, kicking the conversation into chaos.
ChatGPT, however, was a different story. It stayed focused, guiding the discussion naturally, gently guiding me toward the answer without making me feel clueless. If I didn’t already know the answer, I probably would have figured it out with ChatGPT’s help, but Gemini turned the entire experience into a joke from the start.
The second question aimed to give both tools a fresh start. I cleared the chat history and asked a more abstract question within the same field. Maybe Gemini just had a rough beginning? I wanted to give it a fair shot.
ChatGPT, immediately focused on the trickiest part of the question—asking about the drug first, which was logical. It seemed to understand what most confuses people. Gemini, on the other hand, started asking basic questions that felt almost insulting—like asking if someone with a driver’s license knows what a car is. Despite going along with it to see where it would go, Gemini kept drilling me on irrelevant fundamentals, missing the core of the question completely. At some point, it was clear I had to concede defeat.
You could argue Gemini is designed for absolute beginners, but effective teaching isn’t one-size-fits-all. By mangling the fundamentals, Gemini lost a student—hardly the goal of guided learning. Despite Google’s extensive experience with educational tools (special shout-out to NotebookLM’s AI podcast features), ChatGPT still leads the way with its patient, milestone-driven questioning that genuinely teaches.
So, which AI should you choose? ChatGPT’s Study Mode wins without contest. Gemini’s Guided Learning promises Socratic tutoring but stumbles over its own basic concepts. If you want a study partner that encourages you toward answers rather than spoon-feeding or derailing into irrelevant chatter, ChatGPT is the superior choice. Try both yourself, but remember—consider this your heads-up.
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