US parents and teachers condemn Google’s Search policy over AI restrictions

Google has said that K-12 schools which block its AI tools will also lose access to Google Search, prompting criticism from parents and teachers across the US. The dispute has raised concerns about schools’ dependence on major technology companies, as well as whether introducing AI to pupils could affect their critical-thinking skills.

Google says administrators can decide whether student accounts have access to its AI products, including Gemini and Gemini in Classroom, and that access will be off by default until schools enable it. Some parents and educators called the Search policy coercive and urged schools to consider alternatives such as DuckDuckGo; others argued that pupils should be taught to use AI responsibly. Several also questioned the accuracy of AI responses and the appropriateness of developing these tools with children.