Google's response to criticism of AI use in classrooms gives schools a choice with a catch: rejecting Gemini also means cutting off student access to Google Search.
Google announced Tuesday that its AI services would be disabled by default for school-managed K-12 student accounts. There's a big catch to that, though.
Schools that leave Gemini disabled will also lose Google Search access for those accounts.
The change will affect Gemini, Gemini Notebook, Gemini in Classroom, and Google Search, extending beyond Google Classroom itself. Google cited AI's growing integration into Search and said administrators must explicitly enable access.
Previously, Gemini was activated automatically for schools using Google Classroom, drawing criticism from senators and advocacy groups. As NBC notes, more than a dozen parent advocacy organizations urged districts to disable Gemini and YouTube over concerns about student use in October.
Requiring schools to opt in technically gives advocacy groups what they're asking for. However, prohibiting Google Search is a clear attempt to strong-arm schools into using AI products.
In an attempt to assuage parents' and teachers' fears, and try to convince the to leave Gemini on, Google is expanding its "Guided Learning" feature. Guided Learning is an interactive AI tutoring mode in Gemini designed to function as a study partner for students.
What Guided Learning does not do, and probably won't, is teach critical thinking. What it does not do, is teach students how to effectively search for information.
There's no media literacy in Guided Learning. And most importantly, Guided Learning does not teach the student how to find multiple, accurate sources to draw an independent conclusion.
Google plans to bring Guided Learning to Search in the coming months. The company says it will guide students through certain homework problems instead of giving them answers.
We are incredibly skeptical that there is value here for students, parents, or educators.
