Google: Turn Off AI, Lose Search in Schools

Google: schools that turn off AI will lose student access to Search.

According to Google's announcement, as reported by Engadget, Ars Technica and 9to5Google. Google is changing controls so Gemini, Gemini Notebook, Gemini in Classroom and Search are off by default for K-12 student accounts until school administrators turn them on. Per Ars Technica, students at schools that keep AI off will not have access to Search.

Chris Phillips, Google's vice president and general manager for education, said "Search and AI are deeply integrated." Google told Engadget administrators can enable these products individually and that it is not an all-or-nothing deal. Google says the goal is to "provide school leaders the control and confidence to use AI products in classrooms as they see fit."

The change follows August, when Google enabled certain AI features by default in Classroom and educators pushed back, per Engadget. Guided Learning is available globally in Google Classroom, with a Search pilot for student accounts in select US schools.

What to watch: the updated controls roll out in the coming months. Google told The New York Times that two options will be available to schools in early 2027.

“Search and AI are deeply integrated.”Chris Phillips, Google VP and GM, education

The facts we checked

According to Google's announcement, as reported by Engadget, Ars Technica and 9to5Google

1. Google is changing controls for Gemini, Gemini Notebook, Gemini in Classroom and Google Search so they are off by default for K-12 student accounts until school administrators turn them on.Fact · Engadget
2. Students at schools that keep AI turned off will not have access to Google Search.Fact · Ars Technica
3. "Search and AI are deeply integrated." Chris Phillips, Google's vice president and general manager for education.Quote · Engadget
4. Phillips said students at schools that don't enable AI "will not have access to Search, and they'll see a message from their school that indicates it's not available."Quote · Engadget
5. Google says the goal is to "provide school leaders the control and confidence to use AI products in classrooms as they see fit."Quote · 9to5Google
6. The updated controls roll out in the coming months.Fact · Engadget
7. Google told Engadget that administrators will be able to enable these products individually and that it is not an all-or-nothing deal.Reported · Engadget
8. Guided Learning, which Google describes as a one-on-one study tool that walks students through problems without giving the answer directly, is available globally in Google Classroom starting today.Fact · Engadget
9. Guided Learning in Search for student accounts starts as a pilot this month in select US schools.Fact · 9to5Google
10. In the school version of Guided Learning, teachers will be able to access transcripts of chatbot interactions on student accounts.Reported · Engadget
11. In August, Google enabled certain AI features by default in Classroom. Educators pushed back, and the new default reverses that change.Reported · Engadget
12. Google told The New York Times that two options will be available to schools in early 2027: one with AI Overviews and other AI features on, the other with Guided Learning in their place.Reported · 9to5Google

Sources

• 9to5GoogleGoogle will disable Search for students unless schools accept AI features in ‘Guided Learning’ push
• The New York TimesGoogle Will Turn Off Search for Schools That Reject A.I.
• Ars TechnicaGoogle will let schools skip AI tools, but they have to give up search, too
• EngadgetGoogle says students in schools that ban AI won't have access to Search
• TechCrunchGoogle will let schools disable its AI tools, but not without sacrificing Search