CBS News reported that Sen. Edward Markey urged Alphabet CEO Sundar Pichai to let schools disable AI on K-12 accounts while retaining Google Search, elevating classroom control and research access in the dispute.
In a letter sent Monday, Markey asked whether Google would let schools switch off AI features and chatbots without also blocking Search. He also sought research or testing on the safety of Google's AI tools and their effects on students' mental health, CBS reported.
Markey said the policy ties access to a key student research resource to accepting AI tools he considers potentially dangerous. He argued that Google should not use its position in education technology to pressure schools to adopt those tools.
The request follows Google's plan to put Search and Gemini behind school administrator controls. Google has said the settings give administrators more control over AI use in classrooms. An Alphabet spokesperson told CBS the company cannot provide Search to schools without also enabling its AI services, which have become integrated into the product.
CBS reported that Google Classroom has roughly 150 million student and teacher users. New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani also criticized Google in a social media post, accusing the company of using its monopoly power to bring AI into public schools. Google did not immediately respond to CBS's request for comment on Markey's letter.
