Google has announced plans to disable its artificial intelligence tools for schoolchildren by default, following criticism over the introduction of AI features in classrooms without sufficient consultation with schools.
Under the new policy, Gemini, Gemini Notebook, Gemini in Classroom and AI-powered Search features will be switched off for K-12 student accounts until school administrators choose to activate them.
Google says the changes will be rolled out globally, beginning in the United States, although no specific implementation date has been announced.
The decision comes amid growing concerns over the influence of artificial intelligence in education, with critics accusing the technology giant of pushing AI tools onto learners while schools are still developing guidelines on their use.
New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani has accused Google of using its dominance in the education technology market to force AI into public schools, arguing that corporations should not dictate how children are taught.
More than 150 million students worldwide use Google Classroom, according to a letter sent to the company by U.S. Senators Richard Blumenthal and Josh Hawley, who questioned why AI features had been activated by default on school devices.
Google's education vice president Chris Phillips has also acknowledged that disabling AI-powered features could affect access to Google Search, arguing that the company's search engine and AI technologies are now deeply integrated.
Meanwhile, school districts in New York and Los Angeles have already taken steps to restrict AI access on student devices, citing concerns around responsible use, data privacy and the role of teachers.
Google maintains that the changes are intended to give schools greater control over how AI is introduced in classrooms, amid concerns that learners could use the technology to bypass academic work rather than support their learning.
The Los Angeles school district says it supports the responsible use of AI in education, provided the technology complements teachers, safeguards student privacy and promotes meaningful learning rather than replacing classroom instruction.
