Google is tying access to its search engine to schools’ decisions about artificial intelligence tools. Chris Phillips, the company’s vice president of education, said students at schools that do not enable Google’s AI features will lose access to Search and instead see a message from their school saying that search is unavailable.
Google links Search access to AI adoption
In a statement to the New York Times, Phillips reiterated Google’s approach to web search. “Search and AI are deeply integrated,” he said. If schools choose not to enable AI, students “will no longer have access to search and will see a message from their school stating that search is unavailable.”
Google could create a version of Search for schools that do not use its AI tools, but it has not done so. Instead, the company is creating two versions of AI in Search. Schools that enable AI for student accounts can choose between the standard Gemini-based AI and the new “Guided Learning” option.
Guided Learning offers tutoring-style support
Guided Learning is available in both Classroom and Search. Google says it is designed to provide one-on-one tutoring and support without simply giving students the answers. However, the company also notes that all of its generative AI products can make “mistakes,” meaning students may still be able to use a chatbot to complete their homework.
Google is betting that schools will adopt its AI tools because they do not want to give up access to Google Search. That policy could expose students to AI from an early age and influence how they interact with technology.
Schools that object to Google’s approach could consider alternatives such as DuckDuckGo, which allows users to disable AI features. Whether Google’s new Guided Learning option will ease those concerns remains uncertain.
Source: arstechnica.com