Google has launched Gemini for Education, a specialised version of its Gemini 2.5 Pro artificial intelligence model, designed to enhance teaching and learning. Integrated into Google Workspace for Education, it offers powerful AI tools for students and teachers at no additional cost across all editions.
This new platform places strong emphasis on safety, privacy and institutional control. School administrators can manage access, monitor usage and adjust settings through the Workspace admin console. Student conversation data is not used to train AI models, addressing privacy concerns—particularly for minors. The platform has received the Common Sense Media privacy seal, reinforcing Google’s commitment to safeguarding data in schools.
Gemini for Education provides higher usage limits than free consumer AI tools, allowing schools to benefit from advanced AI without cost or risk of misuse. The system works seamlessly with Google tools such as Docs, Gmail, Slides and Forms, easing tasks that usually require significant time from teachers.
A key feature is Gemini in Classroom, which introduces over 30 AI-powered tools to help teachers create lesson plans, generate quizzes and summarise responses automatically. Teachers can, for instance, produce vocabulary lists with definitions, convert documents into interactive quizzes and receive instant summaries of class feedback—saving hours of preparation.
For students aged 18 and over, Gemini includes personalised learning aids through Gemini Canvas. This tool lets students create custom quizzes, prepare for exams and deepen subject knowledge. Interactive diagrams—planned for future updates—will help visualise complex topics such as physics and biology.
Further advancing AI’s creative potential in education, Google has introduced tools for multimedia content creation. Teachers can use Veo 3 in Google Vids to produce short videos with sound effects for lessons or announcements. Upcoming video summaries in NotebookLM are set to make study materials more engaging. Another notable feature allows teachers to build and share “Custom Gems”—AI assistants tailored to specific subjects or tasks. This tool encourages collaboration between educators, enabling them to share AI-enhanced resources and simulations that support creative teaching.
Beyond Google’s own apps, Gemini integrates with popular educational platforms such as PowerSchool, Schoology and Canvas. This broadens its reach, allowing teachers to incorporate AI into existing workflows for lesson planning and student engagement.
Alongside its technology rollout, Google is promoting responsible AI use through guides and lesson plans on AI literacy. These resources, developed with organisations such as ConnectSafely and the Family Online Safety Institute, are aimed at helping educators and students understand AI’s ethical and practical dimensions. The launch of Gemini Live—a real-time multimodal AI conversation tool for users aged 18 and over—adds another layer of interactivity. It allows students to engage with AI using voice, camera or screen inputs, further blending traditional learning with dynamic digital experiences.
While the programme has been praised for making secure, high-powered AI tools freely available to schools, it has also sparked debate about the broader role of AI in classrooms. Some commentators stress the need to ensure that AI complements, rather than replaces, human teaching—and that robust oversight remains in place to prevent misuse.
Gemini for Education marks a significant step in helping the UK and global education sectors harness AI responsibly. By combining advanced technology with strict privacy measures, local control and opportunities for collaboration, Google’s initiative presents a promising model for digital learning. This careful balance of innovation and caution could help set a global standard for responsible, AI-powered education.
Created by Amplify: AI-augmented, human-curated content.
