Senator Markey demands Google let schools switch off AI without losing Search for students
In a letter to Sundar Pichai on Monday, Markey asked Google to reverse a K-12 policy that blocks Search for student accounts without its AI tools; Alphabet told CBS News its AI is now too integrated into Search to offer one without the other.
Why it matters
Google's change last week means schools that block its AI tools for K-12 accounts also lose Google Search, which critics including New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani called use of monopoly power. Markey's letter turns the dispute into a congressional inquiry: he asks whether Google will let schools disable AI features while keeping Search, and for any research on how its AI affects students' mental health. Roughly 150 million students and teachers use Google Classroom. Watch for Google's reply and whether other lawmakers or school districts join.
Key facts
- Letter from Sen. Edward Markey to Sundar Pichai, 9 Nov 2026
- Policy blocks Search for K-12 accounts that opt out of Google's AI tools
- About 150 million students and teachers use Google Classroom
- Markey asks for research on AI's effect on students' mental health
- NYC Mayor Zohran Mamdani also criticised the policy