Google: “If you block Gemini in elementary, middle, and high schools, you won’t be able to use the search function.”

Google is introducing a feature to block U.S. elementary, middle, and high schools from using the Gemini chatbot on campus.

However, it is receiving strong criticism for forcing schools to make a dichotomous choice of either completely blocking Google searches, including artificial intelligence (AI) functions, or allowing all searches themselves.

This is because Google did not allow the AI ​​function within the search engine to be deactivated separately.

Google announced on its blog on the 3rd (local time), "For K-12 (elementary, middle, and high school) student accounts, the Gemini chatbot, Gemini laptop, and AI functions in Google Classroom are serviced in a disabled state by default, and this will remain until the school activates the function."

Google supplies Chromebooks, which are widely used in American classrooms, but parents and education authorities have shown resistance to the AI ​​chatbot function.

New York City education authorities have completely banned the use of generative AI for 8th graders and younger starting this semester, and Los Angeles education authorities have also blocked the use of AI, including the AI ​​function installed in the Google Workspace app, on devices provided.

Google's announcement today also includes the expansion of the AI ​​'guided learning' function, which was first introduced in the Gemini app, to Google Search and Classroom.

The guided learning function helps students take a step-by-step approach to understand concepts without giving them answers right away when they search for solutions to physics problems or ghostwriting book reports.