Google announced Tuesday that it plans to disable AI tools for K-12 students next year unless school administrators explicitly enable them. The tech giant says the change follows consultations with schools, teachers, leading researchers and policymakers. As a result, Google is revising its approach to Gemini, NotebookLM, Gemini in Classroom and Google Search.
The move means schools choosing to restrict AI altogether will no longer be able to access Google Search, as AI features are now built into the search engine.
Chris Phillips, vice president of education at Google, told the New York Times that “search and AI are deeply integrated,” meaning that if a school chooses to restrict AI entirely, students “won’t have access to search and they will see a message from their school saying it’s not available.”
This change poses a problem for schools. Even if teachers don’t want students to use AI previews in Google Search to conduct research or complete assignments, they probably want them to be able to access the search engine to find sources and other learning materials.
However, Google Search and its AI features are now inseparable. Given the dominance of Google’s suite of apps in classrooms and the widespread use of Chromebooks, the decision underscores the company’s influence on the education sector. Schools that want to continue to have access to Google Search will need to opt-in to its AI features.
“We will share more details with schools in the coming months, before the changes are rolled out, so that they have time to prepare and allow for a smooth transition,” Phillips wrote in a blog post. “Our goal is simple: to provide school leaders with the control and confidence to use AI products in classrooms as they see fit. »
Google announced the upcoming change alongside the launch of guided learning in schools. The tool, which was unveiled earlier this year, functions as an AI tutor of sorts, as it is designed to help users gain a deeper understanding instead of just answers. The launch comes amid concerns that AI chatbots are harming the learning process because they spit out direct answers.
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