Google responds to claims it is forcing AI on Schools, says ‘We are giving more choice’

A report recently claimed that Google is turning off the AI tools – Gemini, Gemini Notebook, and Search for K-12 students starting next year. Google’s vice president of education, Chris Phillips, told The New York Times that the company’s AI features are “deeply integrated” into Search, meaning students cannot access one without the other. Soon after the announcement, many politicians and leaders including Bernie Sanders and New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani voiced their outrage on social media. “Google is trying to use its monopoly power to force AI into our public schools,” Zohran Mamdani wrote on X (formerly Twitter). Bernie Sanders wrote that “Google is threatening schools,” referring to the policy as “extortion.” The company has now responded to the claims issuing the clarification on the change. US Midterm Election Results 2026 “We want to clarify what we announced today about our education services. Today’s announcements give schools more choice, not less,” Google wrote on X. In the post, Google clarified that while Gemini, Gemini Notebook, and Search will be OFF by default, Schools will be in control. They can choose to turn ON one, two, or all of these services individually, the tech giant said. Here’s what Google said We want to clarify what we announced today about our education services. Today’s announcements give schools more choice, not less. Here’s what we announced:- Gemini, Gemini Notebook, and Search will be OFF 🔴 by default. This is based on K-12 schools asking for more control over student use of AI services.- Schools are in control: They can choose to turn ON 🟢 one, two, or all of these services individually.- We are also updating Search for schools to make it better for learning. Specifically, AI Mode and AI Overviews will offer step-by-step guided learning through problems, so that students don’t get quick answers to schoolwork.We know there’s concern about students using AI to shortcut schoolwork, and schools have told us they want control. That’s exactly why we are making these changes today to address the feedback we’ve heard from educators in recent months. And we’ll continue to engage deeply with educators to ensure we are giving schools more choice, more controls, and improved Search for learning.Schools should have control over AI in classroom: Google The company also published a blog post where it said that “schools should have control over AI in their classrooms and in providing administrators with controls to help them manage their approach”. “After listening to schools, teachers, leading researchers, and policymakers, we are now updating our approach to controls for Gemini, Gemini Notebook, Gemini in Classroom, and Google Search. Access to these products will be entirely off for K-12 student accounts until school administrators explicitly turn them on,” it said. “We’ll share more specifics with schools in the coming months ahead of the changes rolling out so they have time to prepare and enable a smooth transition. Our goal is simple: provide school leaders the control and confidence to use AI products in classrooms as they see fit. We’ll continue to listen to feedback and evolve our approach as we work in partnership with schools, teachers, pedagogical experts, and parents on helping the next generation learn and thrive”.