Google is facing criticism from New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani and education advocates over a policy change that links access to Google Search for K–12 students with the company’s AI tools. Google says schools can choose whether to enable those products, but students at schools that decline will also lose access to Search.
In a blog post, Google vice president and general manager of education Chris Phillips said the company was changing controls for Gemini, Gemini Notebook, Gemini in Classroom and Google Search after hearing from schools, teachers, researchers and policymakers. These products will be switched off for K–12 student accounts unless school administrators explicitly enable them.
Phillips said Google is incorporating its Guided Learning feature into more products, including Search. The feature is designed to coach students through problems with questions and step-by-step guidance. He told The New York Times that Search and AI are closely integrated, meaning schools that disable Google’s AI tools will not have Search available to students.
Mamdani said on social media that Google was using its market power to push AI into public schools, adding that companies should not dictate how children are taught. Former Federal Trade Commission chair Lina Khan also accused Google of using its search position to pressure schools into adopting AI.
The policy drew criticism from educators as well. Randi Weingarten, president of the American Federation of Teachers, told NBC that Google had put its business interests ahead of children’s education. Child advocacy nonprofit Fairplay also condemned the move, arguing that schools should be able to reject AI without losing access to search.
Google presents the change as giving schools greater control over AI in classrooms. However, critics say that bundling the choice with Search leaves schools with a difficult trade-off. The source report said Google had been contacted for further information about the policy.
Sources: PC Gamer.