2 weeks ago
Google Expands Gemini AI Access to Students of All Ages
Google has a smart computer helper called Gemini that can answer questions and help with schoolwork.
This week, Google started letting students of all ages use Gemini inside Google Classroom, an app where teachers post assignments.
Before, only students who were 18 or older could use it.
Now younger students can ask Gemini for help with math and writing.
Gemini can also make study guides, quizzes, flashcards, and pictures.
Teachers and schools can decide whether to turn Gemini on or off for their students.
Some parents are worried that AI helpers might not be safe or good for kids' learning.
They think kids should practice thinking for themselves instead of using an AI for help.
School leaders say tech companies should ask for permission before turning on new features.
Google says it will also make search suggestions smarter for students this fall, using things like their past searches and location.
Google this week enabled its Gemini chatbot in Classroom for students of all ages, after previously restricting it to students 18 and older.
The new Gemini tab can help students with math and writing assignments and generate study guides, quizzes, flashcards, and images.
The change applies only to schools that allowed student access to Gemini or Gemini Notebook, and administrators can turn it on or off.
Parents' groups in New York City and Los Angeles are urging schools to pause student AI rollouts over safety, privacy, and critical thinking concerns.
This fall, Google plans to enable Search Personalised Recommendations Control, which customizes suggestions using students' account data, including location.
- Who
- Google, which operates Google Classroom, made the change; school administrators, teachers, and students of all ages are affected.
- What
- Google enabled its Gemini AI chatbot for students of all ages in Google Classroom, adding a Gemini tab that helps with assignments and generates study aids.
- Where
- In US public schools using Google Classroom, which is used by more than 150 million students and teachers worldwide.
- When
- This week, with a new Search recommendation setting planned for this fall.
- Why
- To increase student access to Google's AI tools amid competition with Apple, Microsoft, and AI startups OpenAI and Anthropic for classroom customers.
Supporters of Classroom AI
Critics of Classroom AI
Student access to AI chatbots
Supporters of Classroom AI
Google says AI helps students learn by providing help with math and writing and generating study tools like quizzes and flashcards.
Critics of Classroom AI
Parents' groups in New York City and Los Angeles say AI chatbots pose risks to children's safety, privacy, and critical thinking and want rollouts paused.
Default settings for new features
Supporters of Classroom AI
Google automatically enables new education features, requiring school administrators to opt out if they do not want them.
Critics of Classroom AI
School leaders argue the default should be permission, not adoption, and that schools should vet significant AI changes before they are turned on.
Use of student data
Supporters of Classroom AI
Google says personalizing search suggestions based on students' account data, including location, makes responses more relevant to what students are learning.
Critics of Classroom AI
Critics worry about student privacy; at least one administrator turned off search services to preempt the new data-based feature.
Key facts
- Company
- Product
- Gemini AI chatbot
- Platform
- Google Classroom (over 150 million students and teachers worldwide)
- Previous restriction
- Gemini enabled only for students 18 or older
- New features
- Math and writing help, study guides, quizzes, flashcards, and image generation
- Administrator control
- Schools can turn Gemini access on or off for all students or specific groups
- Upcoming change
- Search Personalised Recommendations Control planned for this fall
- Critics
- Parents' groups in New York City and Los Angeles; district leaders such as James O'Hagan of Glendale-River Hills
Quotes
James O’Hagan
Digital equity, innovation and library services director, Glendale‑River Hills School District
“"A school district should not accidentally adopt an AI platform simply because nobody happened to find the right check box six months ago,"”
indianexpress.com
“"We seem to be the last to know,"”
indianexpress.com
Sources
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