Google Launches 'Guided Learning' in Gemini to Enhance AI-Powered Education

Google takes on ChatGPT's Study Mode with new 'Guided Learning' tool in Gemini | TechCrunch

As the new school year approaches, Google announced on Wednesday that it's launching a new tool called Guided Learning within Gemini. The tool sort of functions like an AI tutor, as it's designed to help users build a deep understanding instead of just getting answers. The launch follows just over a week after OpenAI rolled out Study Mode for ChatGPT, which is also designed to go beyond simply obtaining answers to questions by actually helping users develop critical thinking skills. Both companies' launches come amid concerns that AI chatbots undermine the learning process because they spit out direct answers. The new tools from Google and OpenAI likely aim to address these concerns by positioning their chatbots as learning tools rather than simple answer engines. With Guided Learning, Gemini will break down problems step-by-step and adapt explanations to its users' needs. The feature responds using images, diagrams, videos, and interactive quizzes to help users build and test themselves on their knowledge, rather than simply giving them the answer. Google says the feature will help users uncover the "why" and "how" behind concepts. "Whether you're preparing for an exam about enzymes, starting the first draft of a paper on the importance of bee populations in supporting our food systems, or exploring your passion for photography, Guided Learning is a collaborative thinking partner that helps you get it -- each step of the way," wrote Maureen Heymans, Google's VP of Learning and Sustainability, in a blog post. In addition to the new feature, Google announced that it's working to make Gemini as a whole better equipped to help users learn. Gemini will now automatically incorporate images, diagrams, and YouTube videos directly into responses to help users better understand complex topics. Plus, users can now also ask Gemini to create flashcards and study guides based on their quiz results or other class materials. Google also announced on Wednesday that it's offering students in the U.S., Japan, Indonesia, Korea, and Brazil a free one-year subscription to Google's AI Pro plan.

Google would like you to study with Gemini instead of cheat with it

Answers from the guided learning mode can include things like images, videos, and interactive quizzes. 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. AI companies are increasingly pushing into education -- perhaps in part to try and fight the reputation that AI tools have acquired that they help students cheat. Features like Gemini's guided learning mode and ChatGPT's similar study mode, which was announced last week, could theoretically help with actual learning, but the question is whether students will want to use these modes instead of just using the AI chatbots for easy answers.

Gemini's new Guided Learning mode can quiz students and create interactive study aids

Google is updating Gemini to make it a better education tool with a new feature called Guided Learning. Like similar learning-focused updates to ChatGPT and Claude, Guided Learning tries to promote understanding by breaking down problems into step-by-step instructions, follow-up questions and interactive examples, rather than simply providing an answer. Guided Learning will be available as toggle in the prompt box of Gemini as the feature rolls out. When it's toggled on, Gemini will treat questions as more of a conversation, testing your knowledge, explaining concepts and even generating visual aids, Google says. The feature is powered by Google's LearnLM, a collection of models "fine-tuned for learning and grounded in educational research." On top of Guided Learning, Google is also offering a free year of its AI Pro plan for college students in the US, Japan, Indonesia, Korea and Brazil. Google technically announced this promotion back in April for its Google One AI Premium plan, but given the pace of AI and the never-ending complexity of Google's branding, Google One AI Premium is now called Google AI Pro. The subscription unlocks access to Gemini across Google Workspace apps, increases the amount of files you can upload to NotebookLM and Gemini 2.5 Pro and includes 2TB of storage. The subscription normally costs $200 per year, so the savings are meaningful, even for just the storage. Google has made deep inroads into education with Chromebooks and Google Workspace, so it makes sense that it would try and leverage that good will to create multiple generations of AI-dependent users. Besides the new feature and promotion, the company says it's also investing "$1 billion in funding over three years for American education" to cover things like research, cloud computing resources and AI literacy courses. The goal here is clear: Google's funding will help non-profit universities trying to adapt to student bodies already deeply invested in AI, and it could also act as marketing for anyone who isn't already bought in.

Gemini's new mode wants to help you learn while spoon-feeding you answers

With the new school year around the corner, Google is beefing up its AI lineup for students. Its latest addition to the Gemini app, Guided Learning, is built to help you grasp topics instead of just handing over answers. And if you're a university student in select countries, you're getting another shot at a free year of Google AI Pro. Guided Learning helps break down tricky topics into step-by-step instructions, questions, and hands-on examples, as per Google's blog post. You'll be able to turn it on right from Gemini's prompt bar once it rolls out. When it's active, Gemini takes a more interactive route by checking what you know, clearing up confusion, and adding visuals to make things easier to follow. Guided Learning runs on Google's LearnLM, a set of models tailored for education and backed by real learning science. Furthermore, Gemini now packs its answers with more visuals, like images, diagrams, and YouTube clips to make studying easier to follow. It can also pull together flashcards and study guides from your notes to help you prep faster. Free AI Pro Plan for students in a few countries Alongside the new Gemini updates, Google is giving college students in the US, Japan, Indonesia, Korea, and Brazil a free year of its AI Pro plan. It was originally announced in April under the Google One AI Premium name, but in classic Google fashion, it's now been rebranded to Google AI Pro. The Google AI Pro plan comes with the upgraded Gemini 2.5 Pro, the latest version of its chat AI. You also get access to Deep Research, which can turn your files into personalized study guides and lessons. On top of that, there's Veo 3 for high-end video generation and Jules, a coding assistant to help with dev work. In addition, the plan unlocks Gemini across all Google Workspace apps, bumps up file upload limits for NotebookLM and Gemini 2.5 Pro, and throws in 2TB of storage. Lastly, Google is putting over $1 billion into free AI training programs in the US over the next three years. The funding will go toward AI education, job training, and other learning initiatives to help more people get up to speed.

Gemini app adds Guided Learning mode & visual responses, free college AI Pro returns

Ahead of the new school year, the Gemini app is adding a trio of new tools like Guided Learning, while the free year of Google AI Pro offer is back for college students in several countries. Gemini's new Guided Learning mode "helps you build a deep understanding" of complex topics instead of just getting the answer. Enable it from the prompt bar before submitting to get a "personal Al learning companion" that walks you step-by-step through problems. Gemini will adapt "explanations to your needs to help you uncover the 'how' and 'why' behind concepts." Meanwhile, Gemini responses can now automatically include high-quality images, diagrams, and YouTube videos: When you ask about complex topics like the process of photosynthesis or the parts of a cell, Gemini will weave in visuals to help you see and understand the information more clearly. Finally, you can have Gemini create flashcards and study guides based on quiz results, as well as other class material to help review. These three Gemini app updates are rolling out now to consumer and Workspace for Education accounts. Meanwhile, 12 months of free Google AI Pro is back for college students with an EDU email account in the US, as well as Brazil, Indonesia, Japan, and Korea. Google highlights features like: * Expanded access to Gemini 2.5 Pro: Ask any question and upload images. Our most capable model provides quick homework and writing help. * Deep Research: Save time with custom research reports, providing in-depth information from hundreds of sites across the web with higher access to Deep Research on 2.5 Pro. * NotebookLM: A one-of-a-kind thinking companion that helps you organize your thoughts and take learning on the go, with 5x more audio and video overviews. * Veo 3: Transform text or a photo into a 8s-video with sound using Veo 3. * Jules: Higher limits when using Jules, our asynchronous Al coding agent that can fix bugs and build new features for your coding projects. Speaking of NotebookLM, Google has added bulk URL uploads instead of having to add one at a time. Make sure links are separated by a new line or space.

New Gemini app tools to help students learn, understand and study even better

Today, we announced that we're offering students in the U.S. as well as Japan, Indonesia, Korea and Brazil a free one-year subscription to Google's AI Pro plan to help make the most of AI's power for their studies. Sign-up for the free AI Pro Plan offer. We're also rolling out a new suite of learning tools in Gemini for everyone. The features are designed to foster critical thinking, deepen understanding and make studying more efficient. Here's a look at what's new: To help you grasp complex topics, Gemini now offers a new mode called Guided Learning. It helps you build a deep understanding instead of just getting quick answers by acting like your personal AI learning companion. Guided Learning breaks down problems step-by-step, and adapts explanations to your needs to help you uncover the "how" and "why" behind concepts. From creating study guides with your course files to explaining tough concepts with videos and visuals, Gemini works with you to help you truly learn.

Exclusive: Google Gemini adds AI tutoring, heating up the fight for student users

Just in time for the new school year, Google has introduced a tool called Guided Learning within its Gemini chatbot. Unlike tools that offer instant answers, Guided Learning breaks down complex problems step-by-step to support deeper understanding. The new feature is part of the AI industry's broader response to growing concerns that chatbots like ChatGPT may undermine education by bypassing the learning process with quick answers. To learn more about Google's ambitions, strategy, and how its new Guided Learning tool works, Fast Company spoke with DeepMind COO Lila Ibrahim and Dave Messer, a Google product executive. Similar to OpenAI's new Study mode in ChatGPT (announced last week), Guided Learning guides students through subjects using a conversational method. Instead of delivering answers outright, it leads users to insights through a series of thoughtful questions. These questions are designed to teach students the "how" and "why" behind a topic, encouraging learning throughout the exchange.

Google Gemini gets Guided Learning tool, powered by LearnLM

Soon after OpenAI introduced Study Mode on ChatGPT, Google has launched a similar feature for its Gemini AI chatbot. Gemini now offers a new mode called Guided Learning. It is designed to help users develop a deeper understanding of topics they're interested in -- rather than just providing quick answers -- by acting as a personal AI learning companion. Powering the Guided Learning feature is LearnLM, Google's dedicated family of models fine-tuned for learning and grounded in educational research. The company claims to have assembled a cross-disciplinary team of AI experts, neuroscientists, and cognitive scientists to help build this model. LearnLM operates on the core principle of helping learners actively engage with information to enhance understanding. Guided Learning encourages participation through probing and open-ended questions that spark a discussion and allow one to dive deeper into a subject. Further, it provides rich, multimodal responses -- including images, diagrams, videos, and interactive quizzes -- that can help learners quickly grasp information and retain it. Guided Learning mode is available at no cost for all Gemini users. You can activate while you type a prompt by selecting "Guided Learning" under the Tools section. Teachers can utilize the direct link to the guided learning page while posting homework on Google Classroom. Commenting on this new feature, Maureen Heymans, VP, Learning at Google, said,