The Two Types of "Personal"
By late 2025, the debate isn't about which AI is smarter; it's about which one knows you better. For students, personalized AI learning means having a tool that remembers your major, your writing style, and that you hate algebra.
However, ChatGPT (GPT-5.1) and Claude (Sonnet 4.5) approach personalization from opposite directions. ChatGPT wants to be your best friend who remembers everything about you. Claude wants to be your project manager who remembers everything about your work. Knowing the difference will save you hours of frustration.
1. ChatGPT: The "Memory" Engine
OpenAI’s GPT-5.1 uses a feature literally called Memory. It learns about you over time across every conversation.
How It Works: If you tell ChatGPT, "I am a visual learner," or "I am studying for the SATs," it stores that fact forever. Two weeks later, if you ask for a math explanation, it will automatically use visual analogies without being asked.
The Student Benefit: It builds a "User Profile" of you. You don't have to keep repeating yourself. It creates a seamless, ongoing relationship where the AI slowly morphs into the perfect tutor for your specific brain.
Best For: Daily homework help, language practice (using Advanced Voice Mode), and general mentoring.
2. Claude: The "Project" Engine
Anthropic’s Claude 4.5 doesn't care about your favorite color, but it cares deeply about your Biology Thesis. It uses a feature called Projects.
How It Works: Instead of one global memory, you create separate "Projects." You can upload your entire Biology textbook, your lecture notes, and your syllabus into a "Bio Project." When you chat inside that project, Claude knows only that information, but it knows it perfectly.
The Student Benefit: It eliminates distraction. It won't bring up your history homework while you are doing chemistry. It creates a "Walled Garden" for each class, allowing for deeper, distraction-free focus on massive documents (up to 500 pages).
Best For: Writing long research papers, coding projects, and exam prep based on specific textbooks.
The "Instruction" Test
To test personalized AI learning, we gave both models a complex personalization command.
The Prompt: "Act as my strict editor. I tend to use passive voice too much. Read this essay and rewrite ONLY the sentences that use passive voice. Do not change anything else."
ChatGPT (GPT-5.1): Often struggled. It would rewrite the whole paragraph or fix things that weren't passive voice because it was trying to be "helpful" and improve the flow.
Claude (4.5): Followed the instruction surgically. It changed only the passive voice sentences and left the rest alone.
The Verdict: ChatGPT is better at adaptive help (guessing what you need). Claude is better at specific help (doing exactly what you said).
The Vertech Strategy: The "Switch" Workflow
You don't need to choose one. Use them for different modes of learning.
Use ChatGPT for the "Lecture": Use the Generalist Teacher prompt to have a conversation, ask questions, and brainstorm ideas using ChatGPT's Voice Mode.
Use Claude for the "Lab": When it's time to do the heavy lifting—writing the paper or coding the app—switch to Claude. Upload your files into a "Project" and use the Thinking Hat prompt to get rigorous, specific critique.
Try This Today: The "Memory vs. Project" Test
Test ChatGPT: Tell it: "I am a visual learner." Then start a new chat and ask: "Explain gravity." See if it remembers to use visual examples.
Test Claude: Create a "Project." Upload a PDF of an old essay. Ask: "Based on this file, what is my biggest writing weakness?"
You will quickly see which type of personalization fits your brain better.
Claude 3.5 Sonnet vs. GPT-4o - Complete Comparison This video breaks down the practical differences between the two models, specifically highlighting how Claude's "Project" feature works for organizing large amounts of information compared to ChatGPT.
