Google Defends Cutting Search for Schools That Ban Its AI

Google said Tuesday that Gemini, Gemini Notebook and Search are switched off by default on K-12 student accounts until school administrators enable them, CBS News reported. Schools that ban AI lose Search access and see a notice that the service is unavailable.

Chris Phillips, Google’s vice president for education, wrote that schools should be the ones to control AI in classrooms, CBS reported. CNBC reported that he told The New York Times the two are “deeply integrated.”

Critics were blunt. New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani said Google is using its monopoly power to force AI into public schools, and former FTC Chair Lina Khan said it is exploiting its dominance in search. Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., called the policy “extortion,” CNBC reported. Randi Weingarten of the American Federation of Teachers said Google puts business ahead of education, according to CBS. Google declined to respond to Mamdani’s remarks, CBS said.

CNBC reported that Democratic Sen. Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut and Republican Sen. Josh Hawley of Missouri launched an inquiry last month into Google’s push of AI into classrooms.