Students using Google search in classroom accounts will need access to AI tools, the company says

Students using Google software in school will not be allowed to use Google search unless their school system also provides them access to AI tools, per Google's Tuesday announcement.

Access to Google's AI features (Gemini, Gemini Notebook, Gemini in Classroom) and Google search will be automatically turned off for K-12 student accounts until administrators explicitly turn them on.

Google turned on its Gemini chatbot for many K-12 students in August, a practice that had previously required students to be 18 or older.

Google says 150 million students and teachers use its Google Classroom platform worldwide, and many students use Google-provided Chromebooks.

August: Google turned on its Gemini chatbot by default for many K-12 students using Google Classroom. · Tuesday: Google announced that AI tool access and default opt-in would no longer apply, and that opting out of AI would also mean losing Google search access. · Tuesday: Lina Khan and Josh Golin publicly criticized Google's new policy.

150 million students and teachers using Google Classroom · 18 minimum age previously required for Gemini access

Messages seeking additional comment from Google were left on Tuesday, suggesting the company had not further responded as of publication.