ChatGPT Study Mode: Learning and unlearning with AI

OpenAI has integrated a learning mode into ChatGPT. It’s designed to help students understand calculation methods and problems, rather than providing solutions directly. On the one hand, this can encourage them to think more deeply. On the other hand, the system is prone to errors just like AI in general. In our “Break The News” format, we’ve unraveled the background.

Background to ChatGPT Study Mode

• Researchers Jorg von Garrel and Jana Mayer from Darmstadt University of Applied Sciences conducted a quantitative longitudinal study on the use of AI among 4,910 students at 395 German universities. According to the study, over 90 percent currently use paid or free AI tools such as ChatGPT in their studies . Over a quarter (26 percent) stated they use AI very frequently. A year earlier, this figure was just 10 percent.
• Students are often one step ahead of their parents when it comes to technology just think about their own childhood. Some probably don’t even know that their children use homework apps for school – let alone that they exist. The ” AI learning companion ” Gauth is one of the most popular apps, with over 50 million downloads . The app is from TikTok company ByteDance and is designed to help with cross-curricular homework.
• AI models from Google DeepMind and OpenAI recently achieved gold medal level for the first time at the International Mathematical Olympiad (IMO) . Both systems solved five out of six problems, significantly shifting the current state of AI research in mathematical reasoning . AI is now very good at solving mathematical problems, but it also reaches its limits when it comes to complex tasks and is occasionally.

Classification: ChatGPT learning mode

Since the breakthrough of easily accessible AI solutions like ChatGPT and Google Gemini , the education system has also been undergoing a transformation . Students and pupils, in particular, have been among the first users and beneficiaries from the very beginning.

Since then, a veritable game of cat and mouse has developed: schools, colleges, and universities are desperately trying to use AI detectors to catch pupils and students and punish them for using AI.

It is commendable that OpenAI, as an AI pioneer, is committed to encouraging pupils and students to use their own minds more and rely less on unfiltered collective knowledge from the internet.

When used correctly, the ChatGPT learning mode can actively contribute to sustainably improving academic performance and understanding because AI is able to address problems in a more individualized and detailed manner than many teachers and lecturers can.

Nevertheless, it’s important to remain realistic: Humans are lazy creatures . To switch from learning mode , which actively guides you through problem-solving with questions, to “normal” chat, all it takes is one click.

Anyone simply looking for an answer will therefore have little trouble with Study Mode. Instead of teaching and helping with learning, the use of AI can, in the worst case, even lead to the loss of critical thinking skills . This quickly leads to homework cheating: self-deception!

Also Read: Advertising at ChatGPT: In the end, money always wins

Voices

• Jorg von Garrel, Professor of Process and Product Innovations with a focus on quantitative social research , commented on his study : “AI-based tools like ChatGPT have become an integral part of everyday university life and are changing the way students learn and work. The results underscore that AI-based tools have quickly become an integral part of studies and that their areas of application are continually expanding.” Therefore, educational institutions must educate pupils and students about the challenges and risks of AI at an early stage .
• AI expert Robbie Torney of the non-profit educational organization Common Sense Media has a positively skewed perception . OpenAI quotes him as saying : “Instead of doing the work for learners, Learn Mode encourages them to think critically about their learning. Even in the age of AI, learning works best when learners are excited and actively engaging with the subject matter.” What Torney forgets in his advertising message : If you’re not interested in learning something, you can simply skip Learn Mode and let ChatGPT spit out the answer directly.
• OpenAI CEO Sam Altman considers concerns about the use of AI in schools and universities to be unfounded. In the 599th episode of the podcast ” This Past Weekend, ” he looks back on his own school days: “I remember when I was in school junior high that’s when Google came out and all the teachers went crazy.” Of course, he’s right that many teachers struggle with technological innovations  especially in Germany. But the so-called “German Angst” shouldn’t be a blanket obstacle to innovation.

Outlook: Learning and studying with AI

AI is already an integral part of the education system and the trend is increasing. Anyone who believes that the use of AI models can be circumvented through prehistoric approaches like banning smartphones in schools  or handwritten exams at universities is on the wrong track.

As is so often the case, it’s important to find a sensible middle ground. On the one hand, we must focus on recognizing and utilizing the advantages and conveniences that artificial intelligence brings.

An explicit learning mode that asks questions, supports learning, and offers unlimited time for questions can be a great help for all students who struggle with the dangerously vague knowledge of tutors.

On the other hand, it is important that AI companies actively approach educational institutions to work together to ensure that AI is used effectively.

Because so far, ChatGPT and other tools have generally been uncontrolled tools . For students to truly benefit from AI, it would be important for educational institutions to work on publishing understandable user manuals .