Google faces backlash over plan to cut Search for non-AI schools

Political backlash

Several left-leaning politicians responded even on a busy Election Day. Senator Bernie Sanders called the plan "extortion" and wrote that Google is threatening to cut off Search for schools that stop students from using AI. Senator Richard Blumenthal said Google is "more concerned with forcing Gemini into schools than enabling students to succeed."

Former FTC chair Lina Khan called it a coercive use of a search monopoly. She noted that multiple courts have found Google liable for violating antitrust laws and said the move shows it remains "unchastened." New York City mayor Zohran Mamdani said: "No corporation should have the power to dictate how we teach our children."

Why it matters for schools

Educators worry that AI overviews built into Search could discourage students from finding answers themselves. For millions of students who are required to use Chromebooks and Google education tools, switching to another search engine is not a simple fix.

Google says it is building a "Guided Learning" tool for student accounts in Search. It is meant to walk students through a problem rather than hand over the answer. For a struggling math student, it might prompt a refresher on the rules for dividing exponents instead of giving a number.

Google's response

Google replied on X that the changes give schools "more choice, not less." It said Gemini, Gemini Notebook and Search will be off by default, following requests from K-12 schools for more control, and that schools can turn each on individually.

"We know there's concern about students using AI to shortcut schoolwork, and schools have told us they want control," the company said. It added that it will keep working with educators on "more choice, more controls, and improved Search for learning."