Report from Mashable
In Brief – In response to growing unease about the role of AI in schools, Google has announced that its AI classroom products, such as Gemini, Gemini Notebook, and Gemini in Classroom, will be turned off by default for its academic Chrome Book services, with schools needing to opt-in to their use. Their earlier policy of having AI tools on by default was criticized by groups arguing that digital tools and AI are harming education. At the same time, Google said that AI cannot be fully removed from its core Search service, such as AI overviews and AI Mode, and so Google Search will not operate for schools that completely ban AI. Google’s vice president for education said its new policy gives “schools more choice, not less.” The executive director of the advocacy group Fairplay, a nonprofit dedicated to protecting children from the exploitative practices of Big Tech, said schools shouldn’t “fret” about losing Google search, and instead should help students find search alternatives that prioritize privacy.
Context – The chatbot-search convergence is well underway, something Judge Amit Mehta discussed at length in his 2025 antitrust remedies order that rejected breaking up Google, and it was always going to be an especially bumpy ride for Google. While longtime Google critic Fairplay pointed out that the new policy is an opportunity for schools to switch to another search engine, other critics chose to describe the policy as a coercive effort to push schools into using its AI. Former FTC Chair Lina Khan was one, saying it “highlights the danger of allowing an unregulated monopolist to control an essential service,” and that the company will “punish those who don’t fall in line” allowing AI in schools. By essential service, she appears to mean Google Search, which is free, and the punishment is using a free non-Google search service. DuckDuckGo, a long-time search competitor and fellow Google critic found itself in an awkward spot, also calling Google a monopolist “forcing AI on school children” but pointing schools to information explaining how to switch their default search engine to DuckDuckGo and encouraging administrators to “get in touch for help.” They probably don’t consider it a punishment.