Google encountered immediate criticism on Tuesday following its declaration that K-12 educational institutions utilizing Google’s software would lose access to Search if they chose not to enable AI tools.
Chris Phillips, Google’s vice president for education, informed The New York Times that given the “deep integration” of Search and AI, students at schools that decline to use AI tools such as Gemini “will not have access to search, and they’ll see a message from their school that indicates it’s not available.”
Despite Google issuing this statement on a hectic Election Day, numerous progressive politicians expressed their reservations.
Senator Bernie Sanders (I-VT) labeled Google’s actions as “extortion” in an X post, stating, “Google is threatening schools: if you stop your students from using AI, we will cut off your access to Google Search.” Similarly, Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) commented on X that Google prioritizes “forcing Gemini into schools” over “enabling students to succeed.”
Lina Khan, previous chair of the Federal Trade Commission and a strong opponent of monopolies, also denounced Google’s choice as anticompetitive.
She stated, “This highlights the danger of allowing an unregulated monopolist to control an essential service.” She added, “Multiple courts have found Google liable for violating antitrust laws, and this latest move shows it remains unchastened.”
New York City mayor Zohran Mamdani characterized Google as a monopoly, remarking, “No corporation should have the power to dictate how we teach our children.”
Although Search is an indispensable resource for information retrieval, educators are concerned that its integrated AI overviews might discourage students from independently seeking answers. For the millions of students mandated to use Chromebooks and Google educational tools, switching to an alternative search engine presents a significant challenge.
Google has indicated its development of a “Guided Learning” feature for student accounts within Search, designed to guide students through problem-solving or information discovery, rather than simply providing direct answers. For instance, if a student faces a math problem, this feature might encourage them to review rules for dividing exponents instead of just presenting the solution.
Addressing the criticism, Google highlighted in an X post that it had responded to educators’ concerns by making AI products inaccessible by default, clarifying that schools retain the option to enable Gemini, Gemini Notebook, and Search independently.
“We understand the apprehension regarding students employing AI to bypass academic tasks, and schools have conveyed their desire for greater control,” Google stated. “These adjustments are precisely our response to the feedback gathered from educators in recent months. We will also maintain our close collaboration with educators to ensure we offer schools increased choices, better controls, and an enhanced Search experience for learning.”