The announcement comes after fierce criticism that the company has “forced” AI features on students, amid an ongoing debate about how the technology should be used in the classroom.
Google dominates the technology offering in American schools. Apps such as Gmail, Docs, the Classroom platform and Search are used daily in classrooms across the country.
In addition, the company’s Chromebook is the computer most often provided to students by schools.
US first
On Tuesday, Google announced the change, which means Gemini, Gemini Notebook, Gemini in Classroom and Search will be disabled for elementary and high school students until a school administrator turns them on.
The search engine giant told AFP that the US is the first country where this will happen. The change will then be introduced worldwide, but no date has been set.
The change also means schools will not be able to give students access to Search without its AI features.
Chris Phillips, head of Google’s education business, told The New York Times that “Search and AI are deeply integrated,” as AI features are now built into the company’s search engine.
Harsh criticism
One of those who has strongly criticized Google is New York City’s new mayor, Zohran Mamdani. On X, he accused the company of “trying to use its monopoly position to force AI on public schools.”
“No company should have the power to dictate how we educate our children,” he wrote.
More than 150 million students worldwide use Google Classroom, according to a letter recently sent to the company by Senators Richard Blumenthal and Josh Hawley, asking why AI features had been made standard in schools.
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