Google Classroom, a widely used learning management system, is now leveraging the power of artificial intelligence to ease the burden on educators. On February 19, 2026, Google began rolling out AI-suggested feedback, powered by its Gemini model, directly within the platform. This new feature aims to streamline the grading process by generating draft comments tailored to individual student work, grade levels, and specific learning objectives, addressing a long-standing challenge for teachers: the time-consuming nature of providing personalized feedback.
The rollout is happening in phases, initially reaching Rapid Release and Scheduled Release domains, with full visibility expected within the next 15 days, according to Google Workspace updates. This integration of AI into the grading workflow represents a significant step in Google’s broader strategy to embed AI tools into everyday educational technology, a move increasingly common as schools explore ways to improve efficiency and student outcomes.
The core functionality is designed to be intuitive. Teachers can now select “Help me write” when composing private comments on assignments. Gemini then analyzes the student’s submission and generates suggested feedback, taking into account the grade level and any instructional focus areas designated by the teacher. Crucially, educators retain full control; the AI-generated draft is simply a starting point, allowing teachers to review, edit, and refine the content before sharing it with students. This ensures that the final feedback remains aligned with the teacher’s professional judgment and understanding of each student’s needs.
Addressing Teacher Workload and Feedback Consistency
The introduction of AI-suggested feedback directly responds to feedback from educators who consistently identify personalized feedback as critical for closing learning gaps, yet also acknowledge it as one of the most time-consuming aspects of their job. According to the Google Workspace team, the goal is to help educators deliver “high-quality, personalized support to their students more efficiently.” By automating the initial drafting of comments, teachers can potentially reduce the hours spent on manual feedback and deliver more timely responses, fostering stronger student self-reflection and evaluation skills.
The feature isn’t intended to replace teacher input, but rather to augment it. Google emphasizes that the AI drafts are designed to be a starting point for high-level, empathetic guidance that might be difficult to scale across large classes. The company believes this will allow teachers to focus on more nuanced aspects of student support and instruction, ultimately enhancing the learning experience.
How Gemini Powers the Feedback Process
Gemini, Google’s advanced AI model, is the engine behind this new feature. It’s capable of analyzing student work and generating feedback that is relevant to the specific assignment, grade level, and instructional focus. However, it’s crucial to note that Gemini in Google Classroom is currently only available in English and is restricted to education users over the age of 18. Administrators have control over access to Gemini within Google Classroom through the Admin console, with the ability to enable or disable the service for their institutions. There is currently no separate end-user setting to control access.
The integration of Gemini into Google Classroom builds on Google’s broader efforts to incorporate AI into its suite of educational tools. This move reflects a growing trend in the EdTech sector, with companies increasingly exploring ways to leverage AI to improve efficiency, personalize learning, and support educators.
Beyond Google Classroom: The ETH Innovation Awards
The launch of AI-suggested feedback coincides with the opening of submissions for the ETIH Innovation Awards 2026. These awards recognize organizations delivering measurable impact across K–12, higher education, and lifelong learning. Submissions are being accepted from the UK, the Americas, and internationally, and will be assessed based on evidence of outcomes and real-world application.
The awards highlight the ongoing innovation within the EdTech space, and Google’s integration of Gemini into Google Classroom is a prime example of how technology is being used to address the challenges faced by educators and improve student learning outcomes.
Looking ahead, Google will continue to monitor the impact of AI-suggested feedback and gather feedback from educators to refine the feature. The company has not yet announced specific plans for expanding the feature to other languages or adding new functionalities, but the initial rollout represents a significant step towards a more AI-powered future for education.
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