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In the battle over artificial intelligence in the classroom, Google has just taken a controversial stance.
The tech giant announced in a blog post Tuesday that Google AI classroom products — Gemini, Gemini Notebook, and Gemini in Classroom — will be off until administrators turn them on. In August, Google said Gemini in Classroom would be available by default. Now schools must opt-in to each of these products.
At the same time, Google is not permitting schools to use its search engine without AI overviews and AI Mode.
“Search and A.I. are deeply integrated,” Chris Phillips, vice president for education at Google, told the New York Times. Schools that ban AI, “will not have access to search, and they’ll see a message from their school that indicates it’s not available.”
Google subsequently posted on X that its new approach gives “schools more choice, not less.”
The company also framed its announcement as being responsive to feedback from schools, educators, researchers, and policymakers. Google promised to share specifics with schools in the coming months, prior to the new policy’s rollout.
“Our goal is simple: provide school leaders the control and confidence to use AI products in classrooms as they see fit,” the blog post said.
In July, researchers at Common Sense Media’s Youth AI Safety Institute tested Google Search’s AI Overview and AI Mode and concluded that neither product is safe for kids or teens to use.
Google described the research as flawed and not reflective of how people interact with its search products.
While advocates concerned about the role of AI in education didn’t want Google’s AI features turned on by default, restricting its popular and universally used search engine has been met with fierce criticism.
“Google forced its AI products into classrooms and parents fought back,” Lila Byock, founder of the advocacy group Schools Beyond Screens, said in a statement. “Now Google is refusing to take no for an answer.”
Schools Beyond Screens is calling on school district leaders to divest from Google.
Josh Golin, executive director of the advocacy group Fairplay, said in a statement that AI isn’t safe for kids and undermines their education and critical thinking.
Schools shouldn’t “fret” about losing Google search access, he said. Instead, they should help students find search alternatives that prioritize privacy, as well as teach them to conduct substantive research beyond searching and clicking.
“Google’s attempt to strong-arm schools into using its AI products is likely to backfire,” Golin said.
Additional reporting by Chase DiBenedetto.
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