Google faces backlash for plan that would turn off Search for schools that restrict AI
techcrunch ·
Google is facing intense criticism after announcing that schools using its K-12 software will lose access to Google Search unless they opt in to using AI tools like Gemini. Vice President of Education Chris Phillips stated that search and AI are deeply integrated, meaning students at non-compliant schools will see a message indicating the service is unavailable. The decision drew sharp rebukes from politicians such as Senator Bernie Sanders, who labeled the move extortion, and Senator Richard Blumenthal, who argued it prioritizes forcing AI adoption over student success. Antitrust advocates like former FTC chair Lina Khan also condemned the plan as anti-competitive behavior by an unregulated monopolist. Educators have expressed concern that built-in AI overviews might discourage independent research, though Google claims it is introducing a "Guided Learning" feature to help students solve problems rather than just providing answers. In response to the backlash, Google clarified that AI products are turned off by default and emphasized that schools retain individual control over enabling specific services.
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