NYC schools confront Google over AI-linked search policy
City officials and a parent coalition are debating Google’s plan to integrate AI into its search tools, which could affect the use of Google Classroom and Chromebooks in public schools.
New York City’s public-school system, which operates about 1.3 million Chromebooks, is facing a dispute with Google after the company announced that its AI features will be tied to its search engine. Google’s vice president for education, Chris Phillips, told the New York Times that “search and A.I. are deeply integrated,” meaning that disabling AI would also disable search. The policy is slated to take effect early next year, though the company has not commented directly to Gothamist.
A coalition of parents and educators, represented by Kelly Clancy, is calling for a complete ban on AI in city schools. Clancy, whose three children use Google Classroom, said the move underscores the need to reduce reliance on Google’s products. “It would be incredibly difficult for us to disentangle our school system entirely from Google, and that’s what they’re betting on,” she said, adding that parents nationwide are mobilizing to “wean ourselves off of Google.”
The city’s public-school spokesperson, Nicole Brownstein, said officials have already disabled the Gemini chatbot and AI mode on student Chromebooks and are seeking to have Google turn off the AI Overview that appears in search results. “We will keep students and school communities updated as we continue to place student safety and wellbeing above all other interests,” Brownstein said.
Google later posted on X that Gemini, Gemini Notebook and Google Search will be off by default, giving schools the option to enable any service. The company said the changes respond to K-12 feedback and that AI Mode and AI Overviews will provide step-by-step guidance rather than quick answers.
Assemblymember Alex Bores criticized the decision as profit-driven, noting that competitors such as DuckDuckGo allow users to opt in or out of AI search. “They could also do the same only when it comes to children if they wanted. But they’re making an intentional choice not to, and I think that’s a disappointing one,” Bores said.
Panel for Educational Policy member Naveed Hasan suggested revisiting contract terms to prevent tech firms from altering software features without consent. Fordham Law professor Zephyr Teachout warned that Google’s approach could raise antitrust concerns, stating, “What Google is doing is illegal under antitrust law and I expect there will be investigations from the Attorney General’s office and other places soon.”
Clancy sees the controversy as an opportunity to teach students fundamental research skills and to consider investing more in libraries and books rather than relying heavily on a single tech provider.