Gemini 13+, a teen-friendly version of Google’s generative artificial intelligence model, is now accessible to high school students as of the start of the spring semester.

Gemini 13+ ensures that students have access to artificial intelligence, especially if they rely on district-issued Chromebooks, according to Academic Technology Specialist Kristine Ludemann. She added that the PAUSD AI Leads hope the use of this tool will enhance learning in the classroom.

With privacy being a crucial element for students, the AI Leads group, consisting of teachers across the school district, enabled Gemini 13+ because Google provided student data privacy agreements, according to Christopher Farina, a teacher on the committee.

The decision has been in the works since the 2023-24 school year and was spearheaded by Farina and Paly technology lead Christopher Bell. Farina said that with the introduction of Gemini 13+, teachers will be able to instruct students on how to use artificial intelligence responsibly and ensure they don’t take shortcuts that harm them in the long run. According to Ludemann, Gemini 13+ has added data protection to filter appropriate content for teens, making it more reliable for high school students.

“This is a majorly impactful piece of technology that has the potential to be really transformative and beneficial,” Farina said. “I would hope that by next year, there’s more adoption of it among courses and departments where it does actually make a difference.”