Google Adds Student Hub to Gemini App With Flashcards and Study Tools

Google is rolling out a new student hub inside its Gemini app, part of a broader push to make the AI assistant a go-to tool for homework and test prep, TechCrunch reported. The company announced the update on Wednesday, along with a set of new study features built into Google Search.

The hub gathers Gemini's existing study tools in one place, according to TechCrunch. Students can start a study notebook, generate flashcards and take practice quizzes without leaving the app. The Verge reported that Google is also upgrading study notebooks to support graphs and images, and that Gemini can now scan a syllabus and automatically add test dates and deadlines to a user's Google Calendar.

Google is bringing Deep Research to Gemini Live, according to both outlets. Students can ask Gemini to put together a multi-step research report, then close the chat or lock their phone while it works. Once the report is ready, Gemini sends a notification, and users can talk through the findings by voice, TechCrunch reported. Gemini is also gaining the ability to build 3D simulations on the fly, so a prompt asking how DNA works, for instance, produces a model users can rotate and zoom into, according to TechCrunch.

New tools land in Search, too

The changes are not limited to the Gemini app. TechCrunch reported that Google Search can now generate interactive visuals inside its AI Overview feature. A search for "pH scale," for example, produces an interactive diagram, and a follow-up question, like asking to plot citrus fruits on that scale, triggers a more tailored visual through Google's AI Mode.

Search is also gaining custom practice quizzes on any subject, TechCrunch reported, including a prompt to generate SAT vocabulary questions. Students will be able to upload files such as PDFs, class slides, or photos of handwritten notes and have Search turn them into a single study document. In the coming weeks, Google's Lens tool will let users photograph a homework problem or worksheet and get an explanation, catch mistakes, or receive coaching if they are stuck, according to both The Verge and TechCrunch. That Lens feature is coming to both the Gemini app and Search.

TechCrunch reported that the update is meant to compete with OpenAI as well as education startups such as Knowt and Gauth, which offer similar study and practice tools.

Free access for US students

Eligible students in the United States can claim a free year of Google AI Pro, The Verge reported, a subscription that includes 5 terabytes of storage, Google Health Premium, higher usage limits on Gemini, and access to Gemini across Google's apps. Students outside the United States will instead get Google AI Plus, a lower tier with 400 gigabytes of storage and reduced Gemini usage limits, according to The Verge. Neither outlet reported how long the free access lasts beyond the first year or what students would pay afterward.