OpenAI launched ChatGPT for teens for users ages 13 to 17, adding new tools designed to reduce homework cheating while helping students learn.
The feature uses a "Responsible Homework Reminder" to spot when a student appears to be asking for a complete essay or a solved problem. Instead of giving the answer, ChatGPT can guide the student toward Study Mode, which focuses on learning step by step.
OpenAI's approach focuses on guiding students rather than simply blocking them from using AI. Study Mode uses questions, quizzes and learning tools to help students understand a topic instead of receiving a ready-made answer.
Students and parents can also set study hours. During those times, Study Mode can turn on by default, meaning students do not have to activate it themselves each time they need help.
The feature is designed to find a middle ground between banning AI from education and allowing students to use it without limits. OpenAI said Study Mode is built around Socratic questioning and scaffolding, approaches developed with educators and scientists to encourage students to think through problems.
Those signals can include the age of the account, patterns in how the service is used, topics discussed and the time of day when the account is active. The new system does not completely remove the possibility of students misusing AI.
