AI isn’t just for techies anymore—it’s now as essential to studying as a notebook or highlighter. OpenAI and Google know this, and both promise smarter learning. But not every “study mode” is created equal, as I found out firsthand.
The Study Mode Rush
If you haven’t realized it yet, AI is now a staple part of studying—sometimes for good, sometimes for shortcuts, but either way, it’s here to stay.
Everyone uses AI for studying, and yes, plenty use it for cheating through their assignments, too. I’d be lying if I said I hadn’t done both. But the point is, the big companies know this, and their new student-friendly modes aren’t just for show.
With that in mind, it’s no surprise that both OpenAI and Google have released their own dedicated study features: ChatGPT’s Study Mode and Gemini’s Guided Learning. Both are supposed to make learning easier by using the Socratic method; asking you just the right questions, leading you to the answer instead of spoon-feeding it.
Despite the branding, these features aren’t just for students. Learning isn’t some exclusive club. Anyone who’s ever been stumped by a problem has something to gain here.
I’ve already reviewed ChatGPT’s Study Mode, but with Gemini’s Guided Learning here, it was time for a real showdown. As someone who’s spent an embarrassing amount of time with ChatGPT and Google’s NotebookLM (which, credit where it’s due, is brilliant), I was genuinely curious if Gemini could take the crown.
To keep things authentic, I tested both AIs on questions from my own studies. For context, I’m in a PharmD program, but what really matters is how these AIs handle teaching, not what subject they’re tackling.
The results were, frankly, a bit shocking. I quickly found out that just because both claim to help you learn faster doesn’t mean they’re anywhere close to equal.
Putting AI Study Modes to the Test
The first question wasn’t exactly rocket science. I’d expect any of my classmates to know the answer. Once you remember what MIC is, everything falls into place.
Gemini went rogue. Not only did it blurt out the answer immediately (so much for guided learning), but it then got confused and responded to an answer I hadn’t even given. To its credit, Gemini apologized for spilling the answer, but then hallucinated my response and tried to carry on. The conversation was already off the rails.
With ChatGPT, the difference was night and day. It stayed on track, guiding the discussion naturally, nudging me towards the answer without making me feel like a five-year-old.
If I didn’t already know the answer, I probably would have figured it out with ChatGPT’s help. Gemini, on the other hand, turned the whole “guided” experience into a farce right from the jump.
When Guidance Misses the Mark
The second question was meant to give both models a fresh start. I cleared the chat history and asked another—this time, a slightly more abstract question, but still within the same field. Maybe Gemini just had a bad start? I wanted to give it a fair shot.
ChatGPT immediately zeroed in on the part of the question that trips most people up, asking about the drug first—a perfectly logical first step. It felt like ChatGPT actually understands what bits are confusing.
Gemini, on the other hand, started asking things so basic they were almost insulting. “What’s the point of giving antibiotics to a patient?” I mean, come on. This is the equivalent of asking someone taking a driver’s test if they know what a car is.
Even after playing along to see where Gemini would go, it never managed to get back on track. It just kept drilling me on irrelevant basics, completely missing the core of the question. At some point, you have to admit defeat.
You could argue Gemini is built for absolute beginners, but effective teaching isn’t a one-size-fits-all drill. By mangling the fundamentals, Gemini lost a student—hardly the goal of Guided Learning.
Despite Google’s deep experience with educational tools (shout-out to NotebookLM’s AI podcast features), ChatGPT takes the crown here: its patient, milestone-based questions actually teach.
So, Which AI Should You Use?
ChatGPT’s Study Mode wins hands down. Gemini’s Guided Learning promises Socratic tutoring but trips over its own basics.
If you need a study partner that nudges you toward answers—rather than dumping them or veering into irrelevant chatter—ChatGPT is miles ahead. Try both yourself, but don’t say I didn’t warn you.
