Google NotebookLM AI Now Available for Students Under 18
▼ Summary
– Google introduced new features for its Classroom suite, including free Gemini AI tools for educators and NotebookLM for users under 18.
– Teachers with Google Workspace accounts will access a Gemini tab for lesson planning, math problems, and analytics to track student performance.
– NotebookLM will soon be available to minors, offering study guides and audio overviews based on teacher-uploaded materials, with custom Gems for personalized learning.
– New tools like Google Vids for AI video creation and Class Tools for managing Chromebooks during lessons are being added for educators.
– Google announced over 12 new Chromebook models for classrooms and upgraded Gemini for Education as the standard tier for base-level education accounts.
Google has expanded access to its AI-powered NotebookLM tool, making it available to students under 18 for the first time as part of a broader update to its education-focused tools. The move comes alongside new features for Google Classroom, including free Gemini AI integration for teachers and enhanced analytics to track student progress.
Educators with Google Workspace accounts will find a dedicated Gemini tab in Classroom, offering AI-assisted tools for lesson planning, math problem generation, and email drafting. Those with Education Plus Edition subscriptions gain access to Gemini audio lessons as optional add-ons. A new Analytics tab provides real-time insights into student performance, flagging those who need extra support or have shown recent improvement.
NotebookLM, Google’s research and note-taking assistant, will roll out to younger users in the coming months. Students can leverage interactive study guides and audio summaries based on materials uploaded by teachers. Educators can also design custom Gems, mini AI agents tailored to their curriculum, to help students dive deeper into subjects. These Gems can even be shared across school districts, allowing administrators to assist teachers with lesson planning.
Additional updates include Google Vids, an AI-powered video creation tool, and a streamlined form-building feature within Gemini. The newly launched Class Tools lets teachers manage student Chromebooks during lessons, pushing content like workbooks, videos, or quizzes directly to screens while minimizing distractions.
On the hardware front, Google teased over a dozen new Chromebook models, including the Lenovo Chromebook Plus 14, though exact release dates remain unclear. These devices, along with the expanded AI capabilities, reinforce Google’s push to integrate advanced technology into classrooms.
Gemini for Education is now the default tier for base-level school accounts, offering upgraded Gemini 2.5 Pro models with higher usage limits than standard consumer plans. Existing Gemini Education add-ons will merge into a single offering called Google AI Pro for Education, simplifying access for schools.
By broadening NotebookLM’s availability and introducing smarter classroom tools, Google aims to make AI an integral part of modern learning, for both students and educators.
(Source: The Verge)
