Senator presses Google to let schools disable AI without losing Search

What Markey wants from Google

On Monday, Senator Ed Markey, a Massachusetts Democrat, urged Google to scrap newly announced Search policies and clarify whether it can technically provide a version of Search without generative AI. If that is not possible, he asked for a detailed explanation. He further asked for any studies the company has done on the impact of its AI tools on student safety, mental health, and academic outcomes.

Markey argued the change "places schools in an impossible position: either give students access to potentially harmful technology or lose a critical educational research tool." He added, "At a time when schools, parents, and policymakers are working hard to implement safeguards on AI chatbots for our children, Google is recklessly forcing AI on schools and treating kids like collateral damage."

The policy and the legal flashpoint

Last week, Google announced that for K-12 student accounts, AI features - including its search engine - would be initially disabled. However, if a school administrator enables Google Search, the bundled AI capabilities come along with it. Google says these updates are meant to increase school control over classroom AI. Some experts say the move confirms worries that Google could lean on its search dominance to advance its standing in the AI race.

Markey pointed to a recent lawsuit alleging a family's 13-year-old daughter spent months chatting on a school-issued Chromebook with the company's AI about suicidal thoughts, exchanging thousands of messages that repeatedly mentioned anxiety, depression and ways to commit suicide, often using a Google Search feature called AI Mode. Google stated it is examining the lawsuit's allegations and that it collaborates with specialists to assist young people in crisis.

Thoughtful investors know new technology choices can quietly change competitive advantages. We're hosting our first ever investor livestream on 11/17 to show you how to use ChatGPT and Claude to invest like a pro, hosted by Briefs Finance CEO Jaspreet Singh. Save your seat.

How AI Mode rolled out and the safety debate

In 2025, Google introduced AI Mode - described as a chatbot integrated directly within the search results - to all US users, without carving out any school-specific exemptions. Earlier this year, Common Sense Media labeled Google's AI search features an "unacceptable risk" for children, arguing that they did not reliably identify suicide risks, tended to normalize eating disorder symptoms, provided guidance for creating sexually explicit fabricated content, and frequently supplied answers to homework prompts.

Google positions AI as a learning aid. In last week's update, it highlighted Guided Learning, a setting that walks through problem solving instead of simply giving answers. "We believe AI products should support 'productive struggle' - enabling students to be actively challenged without getting so overwhelmed that they give up," wrote Chris Phillips, who oversees Google's education efforts as vice president and general manager.

Why this matters for investors

Education is becoming a test bed for platform rules, product design and legal risk, and Google's Search policy sits at the center of that triangle. Watch for any reversal on the default settings, outcomes from the lawsuit, and whether Google provides technical or safety research Markey requested. Those signals will shape school adoption and, by extension, the competitive footing for search and edtech names.

Learning how to use emerging tools thoughtfully often helps investors find an edge. On 11/17, our CEO Jaspreet Singh goes live for our first ever investor livestream on how to use ChatGPT and Claude to invest like a pro. Register to join him.