Compare ChatGPT and Gemini learning modes

AI isn't just for techies anymore—it's now as essential a tool for learning as a notebook or a highlighter. OpenAI and Google understand this. Both promise smarter ways to learn. But not all 'learning modes' are created equal.

Study Mode Fever

If you haven't noticed, AI (Artificial Intelligence) is now an essential part of learning - sometimes for better learning, sometimes for faster learning, but either way, it's here to stay.

Everyone uses AI to learn, and a lot of people use it to cheat on their homework. But the thing is, big companies know this, and their new student-friendly learning modes aren't just for show.

With that in mind, it's no surprise that both OpenAI and Google have released their own dedicated learning features: ChatGPT's Study Mode and Gemini's Guided Learning. Both are supposed to make learning easier using the Socratic method; asking the right questions that lead you to the answer instead of cramming.

Note : Despite the name, these features are not just for students. Learning is not a one-size-fits-all thing. Anyone who has ever struggled with a problem can learn something from this.

It's time for ChatGPT's Study Mode to really go head-to-head with Gemini's Guided Learning. As someone who has spent a lot of time with ChatGPT and Google's NotebookLM, can Gemini win?

To ensure authenticity, the author tested both AIs with questions from his own research. For context, the author is pursuing a PhD in Pharmacy, but what really matters is how these AIs handle teaching, not the subject they are tackling.

Honestly, the results are a bit shocking. Just because they both claim to help you learn faster doesn't mean they're equal.

Evaluating AI learning modes

The first question isn't exactly rocket science. Once you remember what MIC is, everything else falls into place.

Not only did Gemini blurt out an answer right away (a bit extreme for a guided learning session), but he also got confused and gave an answer before the user did. To his credit, Gemini apologized for revealing the answer, but then got delusional about the author's answer and tried to move on. Thus the conversation went off track.

ChatGPT is completely different. It stays on track, leads the discussion naturally, encourages finding answers without making the author feel like a 5 year old.

If you don't know the answer, you'll find out with the help of ChatGPT. On the other hand, Gemini turned the whole "guided" experience into a farce from the start.

When instructions fail

The second question is intended to help both models get a head start. The author clears the chat history and asks another question - this time a little more abstract, but still in the same area. Maybe Gemini got off to a bad start, but let's give it a fair shot.

ChatGPT immediately focuses on the part of the question that most people have trouble with, asking about the medication first - a perfectly reasonable first step. It feels like ChatGPT actually understands which parts are confusing.

Gemini, on the other hand, starts asking questions so basic they're almost insulting: "What's the point of giving antibiotics to a patient?" This is the equivalent of asking someone taking a driving test if they know what a car is.

Even after continuing to see where Gemini is going, it never gets back on track. It keeps asking basic irrelevant questions, completely missing the core of the question. At some point, you have to admit that the tool has failed.

You could argue that Gemini is built for beginners, but effective teaching is not a one-size-fits-all exercise. By messing up the basics, Gemini has lost a student – which is hardly the goal of Guided Learning.

While Google has extensive experience with educational tools (thanks to NotebookLM's AI podcasting features), ChatGPT has the upper hand here: Its patient, milestone-based questions really pay off.

So, which AI should you use?

ChatGPT's Study Mode is a clear winner. Gemini's Guided Learning promises Socratic tutoring but stumbles on its own fundamentals.

If you need a companion to push you to find answers - instead of ignoring them or getting sidetracked into irrelevant chit-chat - ChatGPT is superior. Try both for yourself for the most authentic experience!

Kareem Winters

Update 13 August 2025