Google Pours $9.5 Million Into AI Teaching Tools

Google just announced a $9.5 million boost for AI tools that help teachers, backing five nonprofit projects. The money will flow to CUNY's Integrated Teacher Education program and to Fab AI, a DeepMind and Gates partnership. It also backs Krause Center's AI curriculum, Teaching Lab's Coherence OS for real-time help, and 1EdTech Global's learning standards. Google launched Guided Learning, an AI coach that walks students through problems in Search and Classroom. Search will prompt step-by-step hints instead of direct answers when it detects homework queries. Classroom users get the tool globally, plus teachers see real-time insights on where help is needed. A pilot of the Search feature will start in select U.S. schools later this month before wider rollout. Google also tightened school controls, keeping Gemini AI off for K-12 accounts until admins turn it on. The company says its goal is simple: give school leaders the control and confidence to use AI. They add that they will keep listening to teachers, researchers and parents as they refine the tools.