Google turns off AI for schoolchildren by default

Google has announced it will disable AI tools for students by default across its education platforms, following backlash over the tech giant's push for AI integration in classrooms. The move affects Gemini, Gemini Notebook, Gemini in Classroom, and Search features on K-12 student accounts, with schools needing to enable the AI tools themselves.

Chris Phillips, Google's vice president for education, explained that AI is deeply embedded in search, so blocking AI would restrict access to search results. Critics, including New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani, argue that no company should dictate how schools teach. Over 150 million students utilize Google Classroom globally, with hundreds of thousands in the US.

Senators Richard Blumenthal and Josh Hawley wrote to Google inquiring about the default AI settings on school devices. Google's Gemini chatbot was introduced in Classroom in August, providing students with AI-generated study aids and resources. New York and Los Angeles have plans to restrict AI access on school devices, citing a need for careful implementation and safeguards to protect students' privacy and ensure teachers remain in control.