Google’s effort to bring AI tools, including Gemini, into K–12 classrooms is drawing criticism from students and educators. A Wall Street Journal report describes concerns that relying too heavily on AI for schoolwork may create cognitive and emotional dependence, making it harder for students to think critically without technological help.
Students and educators say this dependence is contributing to lower grades and test scores, particularly when AI tools are unavailable during exams. In some districts where Google’s AI tools are widely used, standardized scores in English, math, and science have declined.
Some of Google’s own researchers had warned internally about potential risks to children’s cognitive and emotional development before the broader rollout.