At this year’s International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE) conference, Google unveiled a suite of new artificial intelligence (AI) tools designed to enhance teaching and learning. Among the key announcements was Gemini for Education, a new version of the Gemini app tailored specifically to meet the needs of educators and students.
Gemini for Education: A Tailored AI Experience for Schools
Built on the Gemini 2.5 Pro model—regarded as one of the most advanced for learning applications—Gemini for Education offers schools access to premium AI capabilities, enterprise-grade data protection, and administrative controls. This version is now available at no additional cost to institutions with Google Workspace for Education, providing educators and students with a powerful yet secure AI experience.
Educators benefit from expanded usage limits compared to consumer accounts, all while maintaining compliance with strict data privacy standards. The service is integrated into the broader Workspace ecosystem, ensuring seamless management and oversight.
AI Tools to Empower Educators and Classrooms
Google is also expanding access to Gemini in Classroom across all Google Workspace for Education editions at no cost. The tool now includes over 30 new features to assist teachers, such as the ability to automatically generate vocabulary lists complete with definitions and sample sentences—making lesson planning and personalized instruction more efficient.
In addition, the Gems feature allows educators to create custom AI “experts” to support lessons. Soon, teachers will also be able to share these Gems with colleagues, fostering collaboration across classrooms.
NotebookLM and Video Learning Innovations
Google’s NotebookLM continues to gain popularity among educators and students aged 18 and older. Known for its Audio Overviews that summarize content, the app will soon introduce Video Overviews, allowing users to convert their materials into dynamic educational videos with a single click.
For institutions using the paid Google Workspace with Gemini add-on, new creative tools are also on the horizon. With Google Vids, educators can now produce 8-second videos with audio effects using Veo 3. Meanwhile, Gemini in Forms simplifies the creation of quizzes and surveys—automatically generating assessments from documents, slides, or PDFs and summarizing responses using AI.
Boosting Student Engagement and Confidence
Google is also enhancing student-facing features. Learners aged 18 and over can now create personalized quizzes via Gemini Canvas, with plans to extend this functionality to younger students in the coming weeks. Future updates will also include interactive visuals—such as diagrams—to help break down complex concepts.
In a push for guided AI use, Google will soon enable educators to assign Gems and NotebookLM projects directly to students through Google Classroom, with compatibility also coming to platforms like PowerSchool Schoology Learning and Canvas by Instructure.
A Responsible Approach to AI in Education
Google emphasized its ongoing commitment to safe and responsible AI use in schools. Earlier this year, the company introduced Gemini for younger users with built-in supervision features. Content policies were developed in consultation with child safety and development experts, and AI interactions are not used to train Google’s models—ensuring privacy by design.
Gemini now features an AI literacy onboarding experience for younger users, including double-checking factual responses through Google Search. Educational partners such as ConnectSafely and the Family Online Safety Institute have endorsed these resources. Teachers can also access AI literacy guides and free training designed for both K-12 and higher education.
To help institutions maintain control and oversight, school admins can manage access, monitor usage, and search Gemini app activity via Vault. Additionally, Gemini in Google Workspace for Education has received the Common Sense Media Privacy Seal, reinforcing its compliance with trusted privacy standards.
Looking Ahead
As AI continues to shape the future of education, Google’s latest updates aim to make advanced learning tools more accessible, customizable, and safe. For more information and ongoing updates, educators and institutions can refer to Google for Education’s official launch guide.