Chicago Public Schools will look to other search solutions if Google makes accepting AI a condition of keeping Search, a district spokesperson said, according to Chalkbeat Chicago. Google says schools refusing its AI will lose Search access for students, a policy reported by The Boston Globe.
CPS recently blocked student access to generative AI tools, including Gemini, and the spokesperson said the district is exploring all options to suppress the AI Overviews that appear at the top of Google searches. Google argues that AI is integrated into Search in a way that prevents it from supplying the two separately.
Protests Reach Google Offices
Around 30 students, parents and educators gathered outside Google's office in Chicago's West Loop, Chalkbeat Chicago reported. Dozens also demonstrated at the company's Cambridge office on November 11, 2026, while coordinated rallies targeted its offices in New York and Los Angeles.
Protesters voiced concerns about technology's impact on learning and students' mental health. Leaders from the Massachusetts Teachers Association and AFT Massachusetts joined the Cambridge demonstration. Participating groups also included the Massachusetts AI Action Network, Sociedad Latina and the Becca Schmill Foundation.
Massachusetts Senator Ed Markey, a Democrat, called on Google CEO Sundar Pichai on Monday to reverse the policy. Google says it has stopped switching on Gemini automatically for schools using Google Classroom, after enabling it by default in August.
Districts Set Different Limits
Frederick County's school board voted 6 to 1 in October to limit student AI use from pre-K through 12th grade. Its previous rules let older students use Gemini when a teacher gave permission. Board members cited insufficient notice to parents and teachers being unable to turn Gemini off.
Frederick County retained exceptions for lessons about AI and accommodations for students with disabilities. New York City adopted a one-year moratorium on student-facing generative AI for preschool through eighth grade during the 2026 to 2027 school year. Its high-school students can use the technology only through approved, supervised pilots or career-readiness programs.
Los Angeles temporarily blocked generative AI on student devices across every grade. Boston is taking a different approach by training AI ambassadors to teach students how to use the technology.
Access changes announced November 3 will require administrators to explicitly activate Search for K-12 students, without a separate switch that preserves Search while disabling AI. Google promised further information about access controls before implementation, in the coming months.
Google says it is developing restrictions for Gemini in schools that would let teachers access chatbot transcripts. A company spokesperson said it is also testing AI assistance designed to lead students through problems step by step.
