Over the summer, IUSD granted all students and staff access to Gemini Pro, Google’s personal artificial intelligence assistant. 

By piloting Gemini this year, IUSD hopes to explore how AI can enhance education while monitoring and addressing concerns about equity and student learning.

“Gemini has some great possibilities, and I think teachers are going to need students’ input and help in generating some ideas,” English teacher Jennifer Guy said. “Some students are more familiar with it than some teachers.” 

Part of the decision came down to compliance and safety. At the time of adoption, Gemini was the only available AI tool that met IUSD’s K-12 data privacy requirements for both students and staff and offered integration with Google, a platform already familiar to the district.

“When we think about using these tools, we think about curriculum goals and privacy standards, making sure that the data is housed within our system,” IUSD board clerk Jeff Kim said. “We also think about equity for students so that all our students have the opportunity to access these powerful tools, regardless of their background.”

Students are navigating what Gemini means for their academic lives while questioning whether its convenience might discourage genuine effort.

“I hope people don’t become overly reliant on [Gemini] and use it to produce work when they should be the ones writing it themselves,” junior Madeline Cheng said. 

Gemini could serve as a powerful academic tool for students; however, it does have limitations. Its responses can sometimes be inaccurate, and students must learn to verify information using multiple sources.

IUSD plans to gather feedback from students and teachers throughout the school year with its AI steering committee. The district signed a one-year contract with Gemini, meaning its long-term use is not guaranteed. At the end of the year, the committee will evaluate whether Gemini has met educational needs and determine if the district should continue with the program or consider other AI tools.

“I think AI is best when the purpose for AI is to build on your own understanding,” Guy said. “Knowing when to use it, when not to use it, what it’s good for and what it’s not good for takes some time, learning and practice.”