Google Gives Gemini New ‘Guided Learning’ Mode

Not to be outdone by OpenAI and ChatGPT, Google has given Gemini a new “Guided Learning” mode. The news came earlier this week from Jay Peters at The Verge.

CEO Sundar Pichai detailed Guided Learning in a post for Google’s Keyword blog.

“Answers from the Guided Learning mode can include things like images, videos, and interactive quizzes,” Peters said in his story. “The company worked with students, educators, researchers, and learning experts to ensure the mode is “helpful for understanding new concepts and is backed by learning science,” according to Pichai.

Google’s conceit with Guided Learning is similar to OpenAI’s insofar as the goal is to not give answers to students as though Gemini were a highfalutin answer key. Rather, Peters’ dek says the goal is much more pedagogical: Guided Learning aims to “[help] you work through problems” instead of unhelpfully give them the answers. From an accessibility perspective, the conceit between Gemini’s Guided Learning and ChatGPT’s Study Mode is the same in that both can be counted on to present information in a single space. This can be helpful for people with various cognitive disabilities where keeping track of myriad aids such as flashcards can, somewhat counterintuitively, become problematic. Chatbots can coalesce lots of information.

Once more I say, chatbots are more useful than merely being conduits for cheating by disengaged students. Study-oriented features can make learning more accessible.

Guided Learning comes amid OpenAI’s high-profile announcement of its newest model, called GPT–5. CEO Sam Altman described it as “the smartest model we’ve ever done.”