Google announced Tuesday morning that it would switch off AI products by default for students in schools that use the technology giant’s education software. But those schools that forgo its AI services would also be cut off from Google Search.
The move comes after mounting criticism from advocacy groups and senators about the spread of Google’s AI services available in classrooms. Until Tuesday, its AI products — branded under the Gemini moniker — were automatically activated for schools using Google Classroom.
Google said Tuesday’s move would also cut off students’ access to Google Search if schools do not enable Gemini, given AI’s growing integration into the company’s search products.
Here’s what really happened:
“Later on Tuesday, after significant backlash to the announcement, Google said its policy would allow schools to enable the Search service alone, without turning on access to additional Gemini products. But schools would still not be able to use Search without certain AI features like AI-generated summaries, given AI’s growing integration into the company’s search functionality.”
Force install a plug in on all the school browsers that auto put a no Ai flag on the search query?