Gemini is now available for all Education users, with extra safeguards for younger students

The conversation around the role of AI in the classroom is one of the most important in technology today. How do we give students access to powerful learning tools while ensuring they are used safely and responsibly? Today, Google is taking a massive step in that direction by announcing that the Gemini app is now available to all Google Workspace for Education users, including students of all ages.

This is a significant expansion that brings Google’s powerful AI assistant to millions of students and educators, backed by the data protections of Workspace and some smart, built-in safeguards for younger learners.

AI for everyone in the classroom

This update means that all users on Google Workspace Education Fundamentals, Standard and Plus plans can now access the Gemini app on the web (gemini.google.com) and through its mobile apps. Google notes that Gemini can be a valuable tool for learning and creativity, especially since it incorporates LearnLM, their family of AI models that have been fine-tuned with education experts. According to Google, this will enable users to:

• For students: Ask questions to get in-the-moment support, get feedback on their work, check their understanding of a topic, and practice using the kind of AI technology that will be prevalent in their future.
• For teachers: Brainstorm new ideas, create lesson plans, and generate extra study materials for their classes.

Smart safeguards for younger students

Of course, opening up a powerful AI to younger users requires a thoughtful approach. Google has built a distinct experience specifically for students under 18 that includes several key protections:

• Stricter content policies: The version for younger learners has stricter filters to prevent potentially inappropriate or harmful responses.
• Youth onboarding: The first time a younger student uses Gemini, they will go through an onboarding experience that includes AI literacy resources, endorsed by organizations like ConnectSafely and the Family Online Safety Institute, to help them learn to use AI responsibly.
• Automatic double-checking: This is a fantastic feature. The very first time a student asks a fact-based question, the “double-check response” feature will run automatically. This feature, powered by Google Search, helps validate the AI’s answer, prompting critical thinking from the get-go. After that first time, users can still manually trigger the double-check at any time.

Data protection and admin controls

For schools and parents concerned about data privacy, Google is making it clear that the Gemini app for these users is covered under the Google Workspace for Education Terms of Service. This means it comes with enterprise-grade data protections, your data is not reviewed by anyone or used to train Google’s AI models, and it supports compliance with regulations like FERPA and COPPA.

Administrators will also retain full control over access. They can manage which users, groups, or organizational units can use the Gemini app, allowing schools to roll it out in a way that best fits their policies.

This is a bold but seemingly well-thought-out move from Google. By not only making Gemini more widely available but also building in a specific, safer, and more educational framework for younger users, they are paving the way for AI to become a powerful and responsible tool for learning and creativity in the modern classroom.