Google plans to disable access to its artificial intelligence tools by default for students in kindergarten through 12th grade beginning next year, a move that could affect school districts throughout the Tri-State area.
The change will require school administrators to decide whether to enable the AI tools for students using school-managed Google accounts.
Google’s Chromebook computers are widely used in K-12 schools.
Attorney Clint Barkdoll said, “Chromebooks, which are the most prevalent computer systems that are used in K-12 schools, that’s a Google product and it’s embedded with Google search tools, including Gemini. That is Google’s AI search engine.”
The decision follows concerns about students using Google’s Gemini chatbot to cheat on school assignments and relying too heavily on artificial intelligence to complete their schoolwork.
A recent Wall Street Journal investigation examined how students were using Gemini on school-issued Chromebooks.
Under the planned changes, school districts will have the ability to determine which AI features students can access through their managed accounts.
Barkdoll said, “There’s other things that schools could do that would further restrict it. There’s things that they could opt in or opt out of, and that’ll hit us locally. All of our local school districts are using Chromebooks.”
The changes are expected to take effect next year, leaving school administrators to determine how artificial intelligence tools will be used in classrooms moving forward.
