Google turns off student AI by default, but Search goes too
Google said Tuesday it will switch off its Gemini AI tools for K-12 student accounts unless school leaders turn them on, NBC News and Education Week report. Schools that keep AI off will lose Google Search too. Search will not be offered without its AI features.
Google said on Tuesday it will switch off its AI products by default for K-12 students, NBC News and Education Week report. The change covers schools that use its education software.
Gemini, Gemini Notebook, Gemini in Classroom and Google Search “will be entirely off for K-12 student accounts until school administrators explicitly turn them on,” Chris Phillips, Google's vice president of education, wrote in a blog post, NBC News reports.
Schools that forgo the AI tools will also lose Search by default, NBC News reports. Later on Tuesday, Google said schools could turn on Search alone without other Gemini products, NBC News says. But Search will still include AI features such as AI summaries.
“Search and AI are deeply integrated,” Phillips said during a virtual meeting, Education Week reports. Traditional searches with no AI summaries will not be an option, it says.
Google said AI Mode and AI Overviews for schools will offer “step-by-step guided learning through problems” rather than quick answers, NBC News and Education Week report. Settings can differ by grade, Education Week reports. Phillips said the changes will start early next year.
The move follows criticism from advocacy groups and senators, NBC News reports. Until Tuesday, Gemini was switched on by default for schools using Google Classroom, it says.
“It is unfortunate that Google has prioritized its business interests over the education of our children,” said Randi Weingarten, president of the American Federation of Teachers, NBC News reports.
“Google is once again prioritizing profits over people,” Senator Richard Blumenthal said in an email to Education Week. Google said the changes “give schools more choice, not less,” NBC News reports.
New York City banned student-facing AI through eighth grade, and Los Angeles Unified paused generative AI on its devices, Education Week reports. The two districts use Google products.
What we know: AI tools and Search will be off for students unless schools turn them on, and Search comes with AI.
What we don't: Whether Google will offer Search without AI, and how many districts will drop Search.
Where outlets agree NBC News and Education Week report that AI tools and Search will be off for K-12 students by default and that Search will not be offered without AI features.
Where they differ Google says the changes give schools more choice, while Fairplay's Josh Golin says Google is trying “to strong-arm schools into using its AI products,” NBC News reports.