Google will cut off Search for schools that turn off its AI tools

Google said Tuesday it will switch off its AI tools for K-12 student accounts next year unless school administrators turn them on, and that schools restricting AI entirely will also lose Google Search for their students.

Chris Phillips, Google’s vice president for education, announced the change in a blog post on Nov. 3. Gemini, Gemini in Classroom and Google Search will be “entirely off for K-12 student accounts” until administrators enable them, according to PPC Land. Schools can turn each product on separately. Phillips wrote that “we believe schools should have control over AI in their classrooms,” the Associated Press reported.

The Search provision is the point of dispute. Phillips told The New York Times that “Search and AI are deeply integrated,” and that students at schools that ban AI “will not have access to search, and they’ll see a message from their school that indicates it’s not available,” according to TechCrunch. PPC Land reported that Search includes AI Mode and AI Overviews, so a school that turns AI off loses Search for students.

Google’s News from Google account posted on X that “Today’s announcements give schools more choice, not less,” according to Android Authority. The post said AI Mode and AI Overviews in Search for schools would offer step-by-step guided learning. PPC Land reported that the post did not say whether a version of Search without AI would be offered.

The blog post gives no start date. Phillips wrote that Google will “share more specifics with schools in the coming months,” TechCrunch reported. The Times reported the switch would take effect early next year, according to Android Authority.

Google is the dominant education technology provider for U.S. schools, the AP reported. The company says 150 million students and teachers worldwide use Google Classroom. In August, Google turned on Gemini for many K-12 students who use Classroom; before then, Gemini was available only to users 18 or older. New York City and Los Angeles have temporarily banned generative AI tools in elementary and middle schools while they assess safety and develop policies, the AP reported.

Critics said the policy forces schools to accept AI. Lina Khan, the former Federal Trade Commission chair, wrote on social media that “Google is using its search monopoly to coerce schools into adopting AI,” the AP reported. Josh Golin, executive director of the children’s advocacy group Fairplay, said Google’s effort to “strong-arm schools into using its AI products is likely to backfire.” He urged schools to turn off Google’s AI tools and Search and to help students find more privacy-protective search options, the AP reported.

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani wrote on X that “Google is trying to use its monopoly power to force AI into our public schools,” according to PPC Land. Morgan Polikoff, a University of Southern California education professor, told the Times: “This is a particularly clear example of the tech industry going out of its way to force AI on us all,” Common Dreams reported.

TechCrunch noted that teachers may not want students using AI Overviews for research or assignments but may still want them to reach Search for sources and materials.

Search is classified as an “Additional Service” under Google’s Workspace for Education privacy notice, PPC Land reported. Accounts for K-12 students receive no personalized ads, though contextual ads can still appear in Search.

Google announced the change alongside the launch of Guided Learning, an AI tutoring mode, in Google Classroom. A pilot bringing the mode into Search for student accounts in select U.S. schools begins later in November, PPC Land reported. Google did not respond to requests for comment from the AP by publication time.