In a statement to the New York Times, Google’s vice president of education, Chris Phillips, reiterated this approach to web search. “Search and AI are deeply integrated,” he said, adding that if a school decides not to enable AI, students “will not have access to search and will see a message from their school that it is not available.”
Google could create a version of search for schools that doesn’t have AI tools, but it won’t. Instead, you’re creating two different versions of AI in search. When schools enable AI for student accounts, they will have two options: the standard Gemini-based AI and the new “Guided Learning” version. The latter, available in both Classroom and search, is supposed to provide one-on-one tutoring and assistance without revealing all the answers. However, Google notes that all of its generative AI products can make “mistakes,” so it may not be difficult to convince the chatbot to do its task.
Google is betting that schools will not want to abandon Google Search and will therefore embrace artificial intelligence tools. This will expose students to AI early and often, possibly changing the way they interact with technology. Schools that don’t like Google’s approach could switch to alternatives like DuckDuckGo, which allows you to disable AI features. But will Google’s new guided learning be enough to calm your worries?
