Google to disable Search for schools that block AI tools

Google will restrict access to its artificial intelligence tools and search engine for K-12 students by default early next year, allowing schools to decide which services to enable individually, the company announced Tuesday.

The company said school administrators will have to explicitly enable the services in Google's education software, responding to concerns from teachers and parents about how students interact with AI technology.

Google said the changes followed consultations with schools, teachers, researchers and policymakers.

“We believe schools should have control over AI in their classrooms and in providing administrators with controls to help them manage their approach,” it said.

“After listening to schools, teachers, leading researchers, and policymakers, we are now updating our approach to controls for Gemini, Gemini Notebook, Gemini in Classroom, and Google Search. Access to these products will be entirely off for K-12 student accounts until school administrators explicitly turn them on,” it added.

In a subsequent clarification posted on US social media company X, Google stressed that the changes would give schools "more choice, not less."

The company said administrators would be able to enable Google Search, Gemini and Gemini Notebook separately, choosing to activate one, two or all three services.

Google also said it was updating Search to make it more suitable for learning, with AI Mode and AI Overviews providing step-by-step guidance rather than quick answers to school assignments.

"We know there's concern about students using AI to shortcut schoolwork, and schools have told us they want control," the company said.

However, Google's vice president for education, Chris Phillips, said Search and AI were deeply integrated, meaning schools seeking to block AI entirely would also have to restrict access to Google Search.

Students at such schools "will not have access to search, and they'll see a message from their school that indicates it's not available," he said.

Google said it would share further details with schools in the coming months to help administrators prepare for the changes.

Google has become deeply embedded in US schools, with its search engine, Gmail services, and Chromebook laptops widely used in classrooms.