Google announced that by early next year, it will turn off artificial intelligence tools in schools with K-12 students at a school’s request, and schools that eschew AI entirely will lose access to Google search.
Google Vice President for Education Chris Phillips said that “search and AI are deeply integrated.”
If a school bans AI within Google’s products, students “will not have access to search, and they’ll see a message from their school that indicates it’s not available,” he added.
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Google Chromebooks are the most widely used student devices in the U.S., according to The New York Times, with Google Mail, Docs and Classroom commonly used as well.
Lina Khan, former chair of the Federal Trade Commission, contended that Google is employing its “search monopoly to coerce schools” into using AI’s Gemini.
“This latest move shows it remains unchastened,” Ms. Khan said.
She added, “As the public increasingly pushes back against the use of AI in schools, Google is making clear it will punish those who don’t fall in line.”
Schools Beyond Screens, a national coalition of teachers and parents advocating for the safe use of technology in schools, said, “Google forced its AI products into classrooms and parents fought back.”
“Now Google is refusing to take no for an answer,” wrote Lila Byock, the founder of the coalition. “The company’s hostile ultimatum is a desperate attempt to maintain its stranglehold on public education. This kind of bullying has no place in our schools … Schools Beyond Screens calls on district leaders to reclaim their authority from corporate interests and divest from Google.”
Google released a social media statement later on Wednesday, writing that “today’s announcements give schools more choice, not less.”
The company said Gemini, Gemini Notebook and search will be off “by default.”
“This is based on K-12 schools asking for more control over student use of AI services,” Google wrote.
“We are also updating Search for schools to make it better for learning,” the company continued in its statement. “Specifically, AI Mode and AI Overviews will offer step-by-step guided learning through problems, so that students don’t get quick answers to schoolwork.”
Google said it will “continue to engage deeply with educators to ensure we are giving schools more choice, more controls, and improved Search for learning.”
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