Google responded on Tuesday to the political backlash over its new policy regarding the use of artificial intelligence in schools.
In a blog post titled "Designing Responsible AI for Learning," Google stated that it is introducing AI into its Classroom product through a feature called Guided Learning. Subsequently, The New York Times reported that for schools that completely reject AI, Google will disable the search function.
After the New York Times report was published, several prominent left-leaning political figures expressed anger on social media, including U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders of Vermont and New York City Mayor Sheena Mamdani.
Mamdani wrote on X: “Google is trying to use its monopoly power to force AI into our public schools.” Sanders wrote that Google is “threatening schools” and called the policy “extortion.”
Later that day, Google responded. In a post on X, the company stated that the new policy aims to give schools more options regarding how students interact with AI. Google noted that its Gemini chatbot, Gemini Notebook, and search features are disabled by default and that "schools are in control," enabling them to activate these features as needed.
Google wrote: "We are also updating Search for Education to make it more suitable for learning." "Specifically, AI Mode and AI Overviews will guide learning step by step through questions, so students won't receive quick answers while doing homework."
However, Google's post did not directly address the claim that using the search function requires enabling AI. Nevertheless, Chris Phillips, Vice President of Google Education, told The New York Times, “Search and AI are deeply integrated.”
When asked for comment, a Google spokesperson provided the above X post as a response to CNBC.
In recent years, Google’s broader business practices have also faced continued criticism, as the company has lost antitrust cases related to its search and advertising businesses. Former chair of the U.S. Federal Trade Commission, Lina Khan, has been a leading advocate for enforcement actions against Google and other tech giants such as Meta and Amazon.
Han stated in a post on X on Tuesday that Google's new AI learning policy highlights the dangers of allowing an unregulated monopolist to control a critical service.
This is the latest controversy surrounding the impact of technology on children and the role of major internet companies in information dissemination.
In August of this year, following allegations by multiple state attorneys general that Meta downplayed the harm its apps, including Facebook and Instagram, cause to children's mental health, Meta reached a landmark $16.7 billion settlement in its children's safety trial.
That same month, following investigations by multiple state attorneys general into OpenAI’s safety practices, OpenAI launched ChatGPT for teens. Florida Attorney General and Republican James Uthmeier filed a lawsuit in June.
The nonprofit organization Common Sense Media recently rated Google's AI Overviews as an "unacceptable risk." Last month, U.S. Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-Connecticut) and Josh Hawley (R-Missouri) launched an investigation into Google's efforts to promote AI in classrooms.
Google launched AI Overviews as a search feature in May 2024.
— MacKenzie Sigalos of CNBC also contributed to this article.