Google plans to make Gemini and Search opt-in for school-managed K-12 student accounts

Guided Learning is already globally available in Google Classroom. Google describes teacher-assigned activities tied to class material that give teachers real-time insights into where students need support. Erica Meltzer reported for Chalkbeat that teachers can review students' chats and that students cannot switch to regular Gemini within Classroom.

For Search, Google plans a pilot in select U.S. schools later in November. It says certain homework-help queries on student accounts will prompt students to work through problems rather than go straight to answers. Google plans to expand the pilot to other districts in the coming months.

Chalkbeat reported that Common Sense Media reviewers found an earlier version of Guided Learning could still complete homework assignments and essays. Chalkbeat said the group had not published a standalone review of Guided Learning and reported Google's assertion that the Classroom version has stricter safeguards.

The Search trade-off

Forbes contributor Dan Fitzpatrick reported that he asked Phillips whether schools could remove AI Overviews while keeping conventional Google Search for school-managed K-12 student accounts under the proposed controls. Phillips' answer was no. “Search and AI are deeply integrated,” Phillips told him. Phillips also told Chalkbeat that schools wanting AI off could choose not to have Search at all.