Meet Guided Learning, Google Gemini's answer to ChatGPT's Study Mode for students

Gemini Guided Learning

Google is doubling down on education with a new “guided learning” mode inside its Gemini AI, designed to help students understand concepts instead of just handing over quick answers. Announced in a blog post by CEO Sundar Pichai, the new feature acts as a “learning companion,” walking students through problems with step-by-step guidance, targeted questions, and interactive learning tools.

Rather than simply spitting out answers, Gemini’s guided learning mode offers a more active experience, using images, videos, and even quizzes to reinforce understanding. According to Google, the mode was developed with input from educators, students, and learning scientists to ensure it aligns with real-world teaching principles and learning science.

"Having regular access to computers in grad school changed my life, and led me on the path to Google. It’s my hope that bringing the best AI tools to college students will open up new worlds for them, too," said Pichai in the blog post.

The move comes at a time when AI tools like Gemini and ChatGPT are under scrutiny for how they’re being used in classrooms — often as shortcuts for assignments rather than study aids. With guided learning, Google appears to be countering that perception by offering a mode that encourages genuine learning and concept mastery. Whether students will actually choose to use it as intended, though, is another matter entirely.

Who can use Guided Learning mode?

As of now, Google is making its Gemini Advanced AI Pro Plan free for students (18+) in the U.S., Japan, Korea, Indonesia, and Brazil for 12 months. To be eligible, they must sign up by October 6. The offer gives access to Gemini’s more powerful models and advanced capabilities that could enhance productivity and academic work. It's not clear when the new mode in Gemini will be made available to students in India.

Beyond tools, Google is committing $1 billion over three years toward improving education in the U.S., with investments in AI literacy programs, research funding, and cloud computing resources for institutions. The initiative is part of a larger push by major AI companies to position their technologies as enablers of better learning—not shortcuts.

With both OpenAI and Google now offering student-focused study modes, the race is on not just to dominate the AI market, but also to redefine how students interact with these tools in the learning process. Whether it’s a turning point for AI in education—or just another feature students bypass—will depend on how it’s actually used in classrooms and study sessions.