Anthropic takes on OpenAI and Google with new Claude AI features designed for students ...

Anthropic launches new "learning modes" for Claude AI that transform the chatbot from providing instant answers to guiding users through step-by-step reasoning and discovery.

The AI startup is rolling out features for both Claude.ai and Claude Code that emphasize guided learning over immediate solutions. This launch intensifies competition with OpenAI's Study Mode and Google's Guided Learning as tech giants race to capture the $340 billion education technology market. The learning modes address growing concerns that AI undermines genuine learning by making students overly dependent on AI-generated answers.

• Claude.ai uses a Socratic approach with probing questions instead of direct answers to help users work through challenging concepts
• Claude Code offers two modes: "Explanatory" for detailed coding narration and "Learning" for collaborative problem-solving with TODO prompts
• The features use modified system prompts rather than fine-tuned models, allowing rapid iteration based on user feedback
• Major universities including Northeastern and LSE have partnered with Anthropic for campus-wide Claude access as institutions balance AI adoption with academic integrity