Edition · Wed 04 Nov 2026
Technology Desk
Google Tells Schools: Turn Off AI if You Like, but You May Lose Search Too
Google will switch its AI tools off by default for students, but schools that ban AI entirely will also lose access to Google Search, a trade-off critics say forces artificial intelligence into the classroom.
By Rachel · Edited by Chanan Zevin - Chief Editor and Head of Desks
Published
Off by default, with a catch
Google, one of the largest suppliers of education technology in the world, announced on Tuesday that its AI products, including the Gemini assistant and AI features in Search, will be turned off by default for student accounts from kindergarten through 12th grade until school administrators "explicitly turn them on." The move reverses an August decision to switch Gemini on by default in Google Classroom.
Off by default, with a catch
But the new controls come with a significant condition. Schools that choose to block AI entirely will also lose student access to Google Search. "Search and AI are deeply integrated," Chris Phillips, Google's vice president of education, said. Students at such schools will instead see a message saying the service is not available.
A response to pressure from parents
The change comes as communities push for tighter limits on screens and AI in schools, amid fears that the technology could stunt learning or pose safety risks. School districts in New York City and Los Angeles banned generative AI tools for many or all students this school year. Google's Chromebooks are used by tens of millions of students.
A response to pressure from parents
New York's mayor, Zohran Mamdani, whose city restricted AI tools in its schools, criticized the new policy, and some parents' groups said that tying Search to AI left schools with no real choice. Critics argue that a search engine is a basic research tool, and that making it conditional on accepting AI amounts to pressure rather than permission.
'Guided learning'
Google framed the changes as giving schools "more choice, not less," saying administrators can switch Gemini, its notebook tool and Search on or off individually. It also described a new "guided learning" approach in which its systems, when they detect a student seeking homework help, walk through the problem step by step rather than handing over an answer.
'Guided learning'
Other companies are taking similar paths. OpenAI introduced a teen version of ChatGPT with a study mode in August, and many technology firms are paying to train teachers in AI. The company said it would share details with schools in the coming months before the changes roll out.
Dissent inside the company
The announcement arrives as Google faces criticism from within. Researchers at its AI division say employment contracts discourage them from speaking publicly about the dangers of the technology, and some are pushing the company to let them share what they know.
Dissent inside the company
The two stories point to the same tension. AI is being built into the most basic tools of daily life, from search to schoolwork, faster than schools, parents and even the engineers who make it can agree on its limits.