Google makes schools' access to its search engine conditional on adopting AI tools
School systems will be able to switch off Gemini and other features, but they will lose Google Search; the change drew criticism from educators and former FTC chair Lina Khan
Translated from the Portuguese original by the Panorama newsroom. Read in Portuguese
Summary written by the Panorama newsroom from the sources listed below. Facts are attributed to the original publications.
Google announced on Tuesday (3) that schools using its education tools will only keep access to the company's search engine if they also accept artificial intelligence features, according to an Associated Press report published by g1.
Under the new rule, the automatic activation of the Gemini chatbot for K-12 students, introduced in August on Google Classroom, will no longer be the default. Administrators of elementary, middle and high schools will be able to turn each tool on or off individually, including Gemini, Gemini Notebook and Search itself, which will stay disabled until they choose to enable them. Because the search engine is integrated with AI, however, schools that turn down the technology will lose it.
In a post on the company blog, Chris Phillips, Google's vice president for education, said schools should have control over how AI is used in the classroom. The company also said it will adjust Search to offer step-by-step guidance instead of ready-made answers to homework.
The move drew immediate criticism. Lina Khan, former chair of the US Federal Trade Commission (FTC), accused Google of using its search monopoly to coerce schools into adopting artificial intelligence. Josh Golin, executive director of the organization Fairplay, recommended that schools disable the company's services and look for alternatives that protect data privacy.
According to Google, 150 million students and teachers use Classroom worldwide. The company is the leading provider of education technology in US schools, where the New York and Los Angeles districts have temporarily suspended generative AI in elementary schools while they assess its safety.