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No Google Search for the school that shut down artificial intelligence

Gemini and Google Search will be turned off by default on K-12 accounts; no access unless administrators explicitly enable it

Quick Look

Google will completely disable Google Search in schools that reject AI features.
Gemini, Gemini Notebook, Gemini in Classroom, and Google Search will be disabled by default for K-12 student accounts and will not be accessible unless administrators explicitly enable it.
The company confirmed this decision to The New York Times, and the same information was included in an education-focused update published on Tuesday.

AI-generated summary

Why It Matters

Google opened Gemini by default in the Classroom application, and this step increased doubts about artificial intelligence entering schools. There was also news about falling test scores and their impact on students' learning abilities. Last month, lawmakers asked Google about the possible harm of artificial intelligence products in schools.

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Google Search will be completely disabled in schools that reject AI features. The company confirmed this decision to The New York Times. The same information was also included in a general education-focused update released on Tuesday.

Accordingly, Gemini, Gemini Notebook, Gemini in Classroom and Google Search will be disabled by default in K-12 student accounts. Students won't be able to access unless administrators explicitly enable them. K-12 refers to education levels from kindergarten to the end of high school.

Why Are Google Search and AI Collapsed Together?

Administrators will not be given the option to disable Gemini-supported features without closing the search. Chris Phillips, Google's vice president of education, spoke to NYT about the issue. According to Phillips, search and artificial intelligence are deeply integrated.

For this reason, schools that turn off AI features won't be able to access the search, Phillips said. Students will see a message from their school stating that the service is unavailable. Google, on the other hand, did not immediately respond to The Verge's request for comment.

Continuation of a Controversial Process

The announcement comes just months after Google turned Gemini on by default in the Classroom app. More than 150 million teachers and students use Classroom around the world. This step increased doubts about artificial intelligence entering schools.

There was also news about falling test scores and their impact on students' learning abilities. Last month, lawmakers asked Google about the potential harm of its AI products in schools. Google no longer turns on AI in schools by default. However, this choice comes at a cost, because the school that closes loses the search.

Guided Learning Comes to Call

The company is also trying to address concerns about students looking for "shortcuts" with artificial intelligence instead of solving problems themselves. For this, it places the Guided Learning feature in the AI Overviews section of the search. The feature aims to help students solve problems step by step.

Finally, Google will start testing this feature in some schools in the USA this month. So Guided Learning's first test within Google Search will be with this limited school trial.

What to Watch

AI outlook — possibilities, not facts

Google will test the Guided Learning feature in some schools in the US this month.
Very likely · Within days

Open Questions

How many schools will reject AI features?
In which schools and when will Guided Learning testing start?
Will students be able to access alternative resources when they lose search access?