Bipartisan Senators Launch Inquiry Into Google's AI Push in Schools Over Cognitive Risks to Children

A bipartisan pair of U.S. senators has written to Google CEO Sundar Pichai demanding answers about the company's expansion of artificial intelligence tools in schools, citing what they call "grave concerns" about the risks that AI poses to children. Sens. Richard Blumenthal and Josh Hawley sent the letter following a Wall Street Journal investigation into Google's AI push in education and allegations that the technology poses cognitive risks to schoolchildren.

The inquiry adds congressional pressure on Google, whose shares trade under the ticker GOOGL, and signals growing bipartisan appetite for stricter oversight of AI products used by minors. Blumenthal and Hawley have previously collaborated on legislation targeting AI companies' access to children, including a bill that would require age verification and restrict AI chatbot services for minors, giving the current letter a legislative backdrop that could accelerate formal action.