Google announced Tuesday morning that it would switch off AI products by default for students in schools that use the technology giant’s education software. But those schools that forgo its AI services would also be cut off from Google Search.
The move comes after mounting criticism from advocacy groups and senators about the spread of Google’s AI services available in classrooms. Until Tuesday, its AI products — branded under the Gemini moniker — were automatically activated for schools using Google Classroom.
Google said Tuesday’s move would also cut off students’ access to Google Search if schools do not enable Gemini, given AI’s growing integration into the company’s search products.
Don’t theaten kids with a good time
hah, do it
Seriously - do you want an entire generation who knows how to live without Google search? Because that’s how you get an entire generation that knows alternatives to Google. This is a huge opportunity for the likes of Bing, DuckDuckGo, StartPage, etc…
I am sorry, Bing?!?
As a realistic choice for an educational partner? Yes, absolutely. I’m not saying you should use Bing or that it’s all that great, I’m saying that Microsoft should absolutely trying to eat Google’s lunch on this.
Hey Google, did it ever occur to you that people will leave your ass over forced AI? I’m on GraphneOS now, out of Google Drive, and I’d like to be even further from Google.
You’re one of the few. If I ask 10 people out on the street what they use, it’s Google. I’d sooner find a vegan than even a duckduckgo user. Also, veganism didn’t change the world either, meat industry going strong. This thinking isn’t helping your cause, you need to consider what would actually change things.
This doesn’t mean you shouldn’t do the right thing.
you can’t tell me, anywhere in that comment, I said “stop voting with your wallet”? Is that all you got from that? How about this: once upon a time, we used to shut down a local cafe who made a racist/homophobic comment by not buying their food. Now, we have a big corporation everyone uses. Sure, keep telling everyone to choose an alternative, but this will never, ever, EVER be enough for Google to care because for every 1 new convert to Mailbox.org you make (generous), there’s 2 people in India, Thailand, Nigeria, who just made a gmail. Why do you think they care they lost you? This is never going to be enough. Do you also send complaint letters to Google? If no, why not? It’s about as powerful as you switching to Proton.
Doomerism is a gross look. I don’t really engage with it, so if that continues, this conversation is over. It’s a boundary for me.
Anyway, I will say this once: I have a cleaner conscience and sleep better at night by doing the right thing. It makes a difference, too, even if it’s small.
*2 people in the usa, uk etc
“It’s about as powerful as you switching to Proton” lol
This thinking isn’t helping your cause
What thinking are you referring to, from the comment to which you’re responding?
Only a small percentage of people are willing to think and put some effort in, the zombie population continues to grow. That is one of the reasons why large corporations hardly even bother with customer service any more, customers are now expendable, every one that leaves, is immediately replaced with another.
Yeah, but what’s the longest you’ve let a gym membership run without actually going to the gym?
I was going 6 times a week until someone did my back in at work, thank you for your enquiry :P
They’ll find out soon that there are other search engines out there.
That’s easy to say, but the reality is a bit muddier. I mean I’ve been using duck duck go for maybe six months now and you know what, I have a really hard time finding what I’m looking for. That said, Google is only a little bit better. I really don’t feel like any search engine I’ve used recently works really well.
And finally, nothing works as well at 2016 google search, that was probably peak web search.
I personally find DDG much better than Google and have been using it for about 5 years.
However, this year I took the bite and moved to Kagi and OMG what a difference. It is by far the best! I can’t go back now.
I see they’re well into the “Are we out of touch? No it’s our customers that are wrong” stage.
They know exactly what they’re doing.
Google search is too embedded in most things for schools to forego it. They’re strong arming the schools to use AI, while giving the illusion of choice
Why would google search be embedded? Like change the bookmark to ddg and you’re done right?
Google Workspace/Education tools might be, but search is a commodity now and Google’s is terrible now.
But yeah, I still think you’re right upon reflection.
Oh no! Now students will have to… checks notes … use a good search engine.
I grew up in the wild west days, and we were explicitly told never to just trust one search engine and to try a couple and pay attention to differences…
Like, Google is seriously shooting themselves in the foot here, and we need to understand the reason they’re willing to do this, is getting kids hooked on AI means they’re always going to need AI.
It legitimately changes how brains work, and shoving it down k-12’s throat in school is doing a lot of damage
That is what google et al want, they want zombies, they do not want free thinkers. None of this is by accident, and the userbase/population is so large now that they are unlikely to fail in creating dystopia. The very wrong people are in charge.
I legitimately don’t know how you read my comment and missed that it implied everything you “added” already…
I wasn’t arguing with you cowgirl.
Good - you’ll be doing those kids a favor. And there’s certainly more and better search engines out there. Google can go outside and play hide and go fuck itself.
Bye Felicia. Plenty of other search engines out there.
Bing has entered the chat. GoDuckGo has entered the chat.
I mean. Cool.
I love this for the schools.
Also… remember this when google pushes “protecting the children” when it pushes for Id verification laws….
Here’s what really happened:
“Later on Tuesday, after significant backlash to the announcement, Google said its policy would allow schools to enable the Search service alone, without turning on access to additional Gemini products. But schools would still not be able to use Search without certain AI features like AI-generated summaries, given AI’s growing integration into the company’s search functionality.”
Force install a plug in on all the school browsers that auto put a no Ai flag on the search query?
I know Google’s competition has a tiny percentage of their market share, but do they really think people won’t find the competition if they have a good enough reason?
Some will, most won’t (in general)
A large issue these days is that things often need to ‘go viral’ to change, and unfortunately (due to marketing) they often tend to go viral in the wrong direction
I have no idea why anyone would continue to use google now, but so many do
I see this as a win. They’ll learn how to research the manual way.
Gemini suuuuucks. It’s barely better than copilot. You’d think Google, of all companies, would have seemless integration with their main apps, like maps or Google search, but they don’t.
They’ve copied the hamfisted shoehorning of Microslop and are just trying to force people to use a shitty product they don’t want.
The stupider children are, the easier it is to brainwash them. This is what religion has been doing for decades. Intelligent Humans are a danger to con men.
