Google criticized by NYC mayor Zohran Mamdani following AI policy change: ‘Google is trying to use its monopoly power to force AI into our public schools’
Google announced a new policy disabling AI tools for K-12 student accounts, but the change comes with controversial conditions: schools that opt out of Google’s AI tools will also lose access to Google Search. The bundling practice has drawn sharp criticism from education officials.
The company framed the move in a blog post titled “Designing responsible AI for learning,” claiming it believes “schools should have control over AI in their classrooms.” However, coupling search functionality to AI tool adoption undermines that premise. NYC City Council Member Zohran Mamdani condemned the practice, accusing Google of leveraging market dominance to coerce schools into AI adoption. “Google is trying to use its monopoly power to force AI into our public schools,” Mamdani stated.
The criticism reflects broader concerns about tech giants’ influence in education and antitrust implications of bundling practices. By making search unavailable to schools declining AI tools, Google potentially eliminates a key alternative, limiting institutional autonomy in curriculum technology decisions. Chris Phillips, Google’s vice president and general manager of education, emphasized AI’s benefits in supporting student learning, but the conditional access policy suggests business interests take priority over genuine choice. The move comes amid increasing scrutiny of AI integration in schools and questions about tech companies’ appropriate role in educational infrastructure.