Some ChatGPT subscribers are observing a new feature, “Study Together,” in their drop-down list of available tools, which appears to enhance the chatbot’s educational utility. This mode reportedly shifts the interaction from providing direct answers to posing questions, requiring human responses, aligning with a pedagogical approach similar to Google’s LearnLM. Speculation includes the possibility of a multi-user study group functionality.
OpenAI has not issued a statement regarding this feature. A query to ChatGPT about “Study Together” elicited the response, “OpenAI hasn’t officially announced when or if Study Together will be available to all users — or if it will require ChatGPT Plus.”
The emergence of “Study Together” is notable given ChatGPT’s established, multifaceted role in education. Educators utilize the platform for tasks such as developing lesson plans, while students employ it for tutoring or, in some instances, for generating academic submissions. Previous discussions have even suggested a potential disruptive impact of ChatGPT on higher education. This new feature may represent an effort to promote beneficial educational applications of the technology while mitigating misuse.
