After Google warns schools about disabling AI feature, Chicago protesters say ‘we don’t want your Gemini’
Did you know search engines like Google are changing the way you see news? Keep Chalkbeat’s valuable education coverage at the top of your feeds by clicking here and checking the box next to our name. Pushback on the use of artificial intelligence in the classroom is seeing renewed fervor after tensions flared this month between some U.S. school districts and one of the biggest tech giants in the…
Protests erupted on Wednesday in Chicago over the city's public schools' decision to block student access to generative AI. The controversy stems from Google's announcement last month that schools that ban AI won't be able to use its search engine, which heavily relies on AI features like Google Gemini. Approximately 30 people gathered outside Google's Chicago office, chanting "Hey Google, nice try.
We don't want your Gemini." Protesters included parents, educators, and some students who questioned the benefits of AI for themselves and their peers. Cassie Creswell, executive director of Illinois Families for Public Schools, which organized the rally, argued that AI should not be the gateway to human knowledge and called for a line to be drawn.
Google's spokesperson stated that the company is working on improving its search functions for classrooms, such as through its "Guided Learning" feature that provides step-by-step guidance rather than quick answers. The issue of AI in education has become a growing concern among parents, educators, and school administrators, with many advocating for stricter policies and human-centered education.
New York City recently banned student-facing AI from preschool through eighth grade, while Chicago has only recently begun to explore alternatives to Google's AI features.
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