Google is entirely disabling Search in schools that don’t want AI
Google is disabling its Search engine in K-12 schools that choose to opt out of its AI-integrated features. The company claims that Search and AI are now too deeply integrated to be separated for administrative control.
Why it matters
This move forces schools into an 'all-or-nothing' approach regarding AI, raising concerns about digital autonomy and the impact of AI on student learning.
Google is completely turning off Search in schools that reject its AI features, the company told The New York Times. The decision was also shared in a broader education-related update from Google on Tuesday, saying 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 Gemini-powered features off without disabling Search, however. Chris Phillips, Google’s vice president of education, told the NYT, “Search and AI are deeply integrated,” adding 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 didn’t immediately respond to The Verge’s request for comment.
Also covering this story
4 other newsrooms covered this event. We read each version separately.
Google will let schools disable its AI tools, but not without sacrificing Search
Schools that block Google A.I. will lose student access to its search engine
Google is cutting off Search for K-12 schools that choose to restrict AI
Google will let schools skip AI tools, but they have to give up search, too
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