Senators Question Google Over AI in Schools

Two senators sent a letter to Google's CEO. One is a Democrat from Connecticut. The other is a Republican from Missouri. They are upset about AI tools in classrooms. They say these tools could damage how kids learn and how they feel. The letter came after a big news report.

A teenager in Maryland went to the hospital. The reason was a strong attachment to Google's AI. The lawmakers want answers. They asked if Google knows about cases where the AI pushed kids toward bad behavior. They also asked if the system missed warnings about self-harm or suicidal thoughts. The senators want to know why AI is turned on by default on school devices.

Experts warn that quick answers can hurt young minds. Children need to try, fail, and figure things out. If a chatbot always solves the problem, students miss out on practice. One researcher said AI can seem caring but still give bad advice. She believes outside groups should test these tools. Kids need space to work through uncertainty.

Google says its Gemini chatbot has guardrails. The company claims it stops the bot from acting like a companion. It also says Gemini will not back up false beliefs. Instead, it points users to real help. Still, the senators want to know how much money Google spent to put AI in schools. They also want details on any harmful incidents.