Google will let schools skip AI tools, but they have to give up search, too

In a statement to The New York Times, Google education VP Chris Phillips reiterated this approach to web search. “Search and AI are deeply integrated,” he said, adding that if a school chooses not to enable AI, the students “will not have access to search, and they’ll see a message from their school that indicates it’s not available.”

Google could make a version of search for schools that doesn’t have AI tools, but it’s not doing that. Instead, it’s creating two different versions of AI in search. When schools enable AI for student accounts, they’ll have two options: the standard Gemini-based AI and the new “Guided Learning” version. The latter, available in Classroom as well as search, is supposed to provide one-on-one tutoring and assistance without giving away all the answers. Google notes all of its generative AI products can make “mistakes,” though, so it may not be difficult to talk the chatbot into doing your homework.

Google is betting that schools won’t want to give up Google Search and will therefore accept AI tools. This will expose students to AI early and often, possibly changing the way they interact with technology. Schools that don’t like Google’s approach could switch to alternatives like DuckDuckGo, which lets you disable AI features. But will Google’s new Guided Learning be enough to assuage their concerns?