Google Disables Search in Schools That Reject AI Integration

Google is completely turning off Search in schools that reject its AI features, the company informed The New York Times. This decision was detailed in a broader education update on Tuesday, stating that access to Gemini, Gemini Notebook, Gemini in Classroom, and Google Search will be entirely off for K-12 student accounts unless administrators explicitly turn them on.

Administrators will not be given the option to toggle specific AI-powered features off without also disabling Search. Chris Phillips, Google's vice president of education, explained to the NYT that Search and AI are deeply integrated. He added that schools that disable Google’s AI features will not have access to search, and they’ll see a message from their school that indicates it’s not available. Google did not immediately respond to The Verge’s request for comment.

This announcement arrives shortly after Google turned its Gemini AI assistant on by default inside the Google Classroom app, which is used by more than 150 million teachers and students globally. The move has contributed to skepticism regarding Google’s introduction of AI in schools, particularly following reports of declining test scores and other potential impacts on students’ learning abilities. Last month, lawmakers pressed Google on the potential harms of placing its AI products in schools. Although Google is no longer turning on AI features in schools by default, this choice comes with significant consequences.

The company is also attempting to mitigate concerns regarding students using its AI features to find shortcuts rather than solving problems independently. Google plans to embed its Guided Learning feature, designed to assist students through problem-solving steps, directly into its AI Overviews in Search. The company will begin testing this feature in select U.S. schools this month.