Google says students in schools that ban AI won't have access to Search

Google has issued a directive to schools regarding the use of AI features in its products, particularly Search. In a recent blog post, the tech giant stated that students in schools that ban AI will no longer have access to Search. This comes after Google rolled out AI features in its Classroom learning platform earlier this summer, which sparked criticism from educators.

Google's vice president and general manager for education, Chris Phillips, emphasized that educators should have control over AI usage in schools. Access to Gemini, Gemini Notebook, Gemini in Classroom, and Google Search will be completely disabled for K-12 student accounts until administrators explicitly enable these features. The company plans to introduce these updated controls in the coming months.

Google's new approach aims to give educators more control over AI usage while also introducing a tool called Guided Learning. This feature breaks down problems into step-by-step explanations and offers interactive elements like quizzes, which Google claims can help prevent cheating. Guided Learning will initially be tested in select schools in the US before a wider rollout.