Google turns off AI for schoolchildren by default

Google has announced it will disable its AI features, including Gemini, Gemini Notebook, Gemini in Classroom and Search, for K-12 student accounts by default. This decision comes after criticism for pushing AI features to students in schools, while they are still determining how to use the technology in classrooms. Google's education apps, such as Gmail, Docs, and Classroom, are widely used in U.S. schools, as are its affordable Chromebook laptops issued to students.

The changes, announced in a blog post, will be implemented worldwide, starting in the United States, but the exact date has not been set. If a school chooses not to enable AI, students will lose access to Search, as AI features are now integrated into Google's search engine. Google's vice president for education, Chris Phillips, stated that AI and Search are deeply integrated, and if a school bans AI, students will not have access to search.

New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani accused Google of attempting to use its monopoly power to force AI into public schools. More than 150 million students globally use Google Classroom, according to a letter sent to the company by Senators Richard Blumenthal and Josh Hawley. Both New York and Los Angeles have announced plans to restrict access to AI tools on school devices, with the Los Angeles Unified School District reviewing Google's announcement and expressing concerns about the potential implications for schools, educators, and students.