US Senator Ed Markey has called on Alphabet Inc. to allow schools to block artificial intelligence features in Google search without losing access to the search engine. In a letter to Alphabet CEO Sundar Pichai, Markey urged the tech giant to reverse recent policy changes that tie AI tools to Google search for K-12 student accounts.
The senator's request comes amid growing concerns about how Google's AI integration affects schoolchildren. Last week, Google announced that AI tools, including its search engine, would be turned off by default for K-12 student accounts. However, school administrators who choose to enable Google search will have to accept the AI features that come with it.
Markey's letter highlights the mounting pressure on tech companies to address the impact of AI on younger audiences. The senator's stance reflects broader worries about the ethical implications of AI in educational settings.