Google tells schools to accept using its AI tools or lose full web search access

Soon, thousands of Canadian students may no longer be able to just Google it. The search engine announcing schools concerned about student exposure to artificial intelligence will be able to opt out of some AI education apps. But if they want to keep using the main search engine, they'll have to accept that comes with AI. They're saying if you're using Google, you're using AI. If you're using search, you're using AI. We'll let you shut it off, but that means you can't really use Google in the same way to its full capacity. This expert in education and technology says it will force thousands of schools to make hard choices about how much AI is in the classroom. I don't think you can understate how big of a thing it would be to just suddenly have Google search just not be available. Google accounts for about 90% of all web searches and is heavily integrating AI across its services. It also has a big footprint in education, from Chromebooks to dozens of apps. In a statement, Google said schools using Google Apps will be able to opt out of AI-based services Gemini and Gemini Notebook. Google adding, search will offer school users step-by-step guided learning through problems, so students don't get quick answers to schoolwork. It's all sparked plenty of online criticism. U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders, a critic of AI, calling it extortion. New York Mayor Zorhan Mamdani accused Google of using monopoly powers to force AI into schools. While there are search and education alternatives to Google, switching away from it may not be easy for many schools. To be able to kind of roll back away from even Google, for example, is sometimes even inconceivable at this point because of how entrenched they are in the education system. Canadian schools currently relying on Google's educational products won't have a lot of time to decide. Changes come into effect in the new year. Cameron McIntosh, CBC News, Winnipeg.