Submission + - Parents and Teachers Decry Google Pledge to Yank Search If Schools Block AI (theguardian.com)
An anonymous reader writes: Parents and teachers across the US are criticizing Google’s announcement that schools choosing to block AI tools could also lose access to Google Search. Google announced last week a range of new AI tools for schools and classrooms, alongside options allowing teachers and administrators to restrict their use. The company said schools should have control over whether students use AI in the classroom, but that schools that choose to block Google’s AI tools will also lose access to its search engine. [...] Parents and teachers across the country raised concerns to the Guardian about AI’s potential to weaken students’ critical-thinking skills and the growing influence of big tech in education. Some called on schools to consider alternative search engines, while others argued that students should be taught how to use AI responsibly rather than prevented from accessing it altogether.
Jen Atay, a 51-year-old teacher in Hawaii, lambasted Google’s approach, saying: “When the software is free, you are the product, and it is inappropriate for Google to test or develop AI with minors. This should not be allowed at all.” A 44-year-old father of two boys in Amissville, Virginia, said he worries that “AI will weaken people’s ability to think critically. I use AI in my work, but it would not be effective if I did not have well over a decade of experience under my belt. Even the best models are often flat-out wrong in their responses.” “These tools are not something that should be introduced to children at such a young age. I’m hopeful that a Democratic Congress will force the adoption of legislation that will protect our schools from corporate malfeasance such as this. This threat from Google is nothing but extortion and it should be treated as such,” he added.
[...] Others questioned why schools shouldu depend on Google at all. An 84-year-old retiree and mother in Maryland, said: “Google decided to follow the evil path to riches. When they started, they were great. Today they are simply evil money grubbers Schools should tell Google to go pound sand and simply have kids use DuckDuckGo or one of the other search engines There is nothing Google offers that is not available from some other source.” Rachel Dominguez, a 42-year-old parent in Minneapolis, Minnesota, also suggested that schools turn to academic databases instead of relying on Google Search. “Seeing as how Google Search has turned into an AI slop-first service, maybe it’s better that the kids learn how to use databases such as Academic Search Premier, JSTOR, and arXiv. Most school districts have subscriptions to these services, and students learning to use them would be better prepared for college. A trip to the media center is not some abnormal chore That is, if the librarian still has a job in the first place,” she said.
Not everyone believes blocking AI is the answer. Some argued that schools should focus on teaching students how to use the technology responsibly. A 67-year-old emerging technology teacher in Texas said: “I do not blame Google. AI is not going away. I’ve been very frustrated this year trying to teach AI literacy with AI blocked. Schools need to teach how to properly use AI, not block it.” A California resident echoed that view, arguing that schools could use Google’s AI tools to teach students to question the information they receive. “Google Search has existed since the 90s and it’s crazy of them to completely remove it instead of just removing Gemini. That being said, I would like to see schools actually permit the use of Gemini and use it as an opportunity to show students how its sources aren’t always valid and you can’t trust everything an AI tells you,” they said.
Jen Atay, a 51-year-old teacher in Hawaii, lambasted Google’s approach, saying: “When the software is free, you are the product, and it is inappropriate for Google to test or develop AI with minors. This should not be allowed at all.” A 44-year-old father of two boys in Amissville, Virginia, said he worries that “AI will weaken people’s ability to think critically. I use AI in my work, but it would not be effective if I did not have well over a decade of experience under my belt. Even the best models are often flat-out wrong in their responses.” “These tools are not something that should be introduced to children at such a young age. I’m hopeful that a Democratic Congress will force the adoption of legislation that will protect our schools from corporate malfeasance such as this. This threat from Google is nothing but extortion and it should be treated as such,” he added.
[...] Others questioned why schools shouldu depend on Google at all. An 84-year-old retiree and mother in Maryland, said: “Google decided to follow the evil path to riches. When they started, they were great. Today they are simply evil money grubbers Schools should tell Google to go pound sand and simply have kids use DuckDuckGo or one of the other search engines There is nothing Google offers that is not available from some other source.” Rachel Dominguez, a 42-year-old parent in Minneapolis, Minnesota, also suggested that schools turn to academic databases instead of relying on Google Search. “Seeing as how Google Search has turned into an AI slop-first service, maybe it’s better that the kids learn how to use databases such as Academic Search Premier, JSTOR, and arXiv. Most school districts have subscriptions to these services, and students learning to use them would be better prepared for college. A trip to the media center is not some abnormal chore That is, if the librarian still has a job in the first place,” she said.
Not everyone believes blocking AI is the answer. Some argued that schools should focus on teaching students how to use the technology responsibly. A 67-year-old emerging technology teacher in Texas said: “I do not blame Google. AI is not going away. I’ve been very frustrated this year trying to teach AI literacy with AI blocked. Schools need to teach how to properly use AI, not block it.” A California resident echoed that view, arguing that schools could use Google’s AI tools to teach students to question the information they receive. “Google Search has existed since the 90s and it’s crazy of them to completely remove it instead of just removing Gemini. That being said, I would like to see schools actually permit the use of Gemini and use it as an opportunity to show students how its sources aren’t always valid and you can’t trust everything an AI tells you,” they said.
