Google faces backlash for plan that would turn off Search for schools that restrict AI

Google announced that K-12 schools using its education software must opt in to AI tools or students will lose access to Search, drawing criticism from politicians including Bernie Sanders, who called it "extortion," and Lina Khan, who called it anti-competitive. Google responded that Gemini, Gemini Notebook, and Search will be off by default and that schools can enable each individually, and said it is working on a "Guided Learning" tool for student accounts.