Google Will Turn Off Search for Schools That Reject A.I.

Search tied to AI access

Google told The New York Times that Search will be unavailable to students at schools that do not enable its AI features. In a Tuesday education update, the company said Gemini, Gemini Notebook, Gemini in Classroom and Google Search will be off for K-12 student accounts unless administrators explicitly activate them.

Administrators cannot switch off Gemini-powered features while retaining Search. Google vice president of education Chris Phillips said Search and AI are closely connected, and students at schools that disable the AI tools will see a notice saying Search is unavailable. Google did not immediately respond to The Verge’s request for comment.

Policy follows school criticism

Last month, lawmakers questioned Google about possible harms from placing its AI products in schools. Google is no longer enabling AI features by default, but schools that decline them will also lose Search access.

Guided Learning planned

Google is also responding to concerns that students may use AI to find shortcuts rather than work through problems. The company plans to add its Guided Learning feature to AI Overviews in Search.

Google says Guided Learning is intended to help students solve problems step by step. Testing is set to begin this month at select schools in the US.