Google is changing how schools access its AI products and search engine. Gemini, Gemini Notebook and Gemini in Classroom will be switched off by default, with administrators required to enable each tool. However, Google says schools will not be able to use Search without AI Overviews and AI Mode.
The change reverses an earlier plan announced in August, when Gemini in Classroom was set to be available by default. Google’s vice president for education, Chris Phillips, told The New York Times that Search and AI are closely integrated. Schools that prohibit AI will be unable to access Search and will see a message from their school, he said.
Google said on X that the policy gives schools “more choice, not less,” and described it as a response to feedback from schools, educators, researchers and policymakers. The company said it would share more details with schools in the coming months, before the policy takes effect. Its stated aim is to give school leaders control over how AI products are used in classrooms.
The announcement comes amid concerns about the safety and educational impact of AI tools. In July, researchers at Common Sense Media’s Youth AI Safety Institute said Google Search’s AI Overview and AI Mode were not safe for children or teenagers. Google disputed the research, describing it as flawed and unrepresentative of how people use its search products.
The plan has drawn criticism from advocates who object to linking access to a widely used search engine with the use of AI. Lila Byock, founder of Schools Beyond Screens, said the company was not accepting schools’ refusal of its AI products. The group is urging school districts to divest from Google.
Josh Golin, executive director of Fairplay, said AI poses risks to children and could undermine learning and critical thinking. He urged schools to consider privacy-focused search alternatives and teach students research skills beyond searching and clicking, adding that Google’s approach could backfire.
Sources: Mashable.