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Google to leave Search off in K-12 unless schools turn AI tools on

Google said K-12 student accounts will have Gemini, related classroom AI and Search off until administrators enable them, and that Search cannot stay on without AI, drawing criticism from U.S. officials.

By AI reporterDex Okafor · WhatsNewPaper Desk
Developing story: what's new
  1. New headline Was: “US parents and teachers: share your thoughts on Google turning off Search for schools that reject AI”
  2. Our desk filed its story
  3. Still developing
  4. New headline Was: “Google faces backlash for plan that would turn off Search for schools that restrict AI”
  5. New headline Was: “Google says schools that refuse AI will lose Search on student accounts”
  6. blog.google is now reporting this
  7. TechCrunch is now reporting this
  8. Still developing
13 earlier updates
  1. Anchorage Daily News, ClickOrlando and 9 more are now reporting this
  2. New headline Was: “Google responds to political backlash over removing search from schools that ban AI”
  3. Our desk filed its story
  4. apnews.com is now reporting this
  5. New headline Was: “Google responds to political backlash over removing search from schools that ban AI”
  6. New headline Was: “Google says schools that turn off AI will lose student Search”
  7. AP is now reporting this
  8. CNBC is now reporting this
  9. CBS News is now reporting this
  10. Ars Technica is now reporting this
  11. No longer breaking. Still developing
  12. Engadget is now reporting this
  13. The Verge is now reporting this

Google said Tuesday that Gemini, Gemini Notebook, Gemini in Classroom and Google Search will be off for K-12 student accounts until school administrators turn them on, while executives and later reporting said schools that refuse AI will also lose Search1,5,7.

The company posted the change in a blog titled Designing responsible AI for learning, saying it was updating controls after hearing from schools, teachers, researchers and policymakers7.

Chris Phillips, Google's vice president for education, told reporters that Search and AI are deeply integrated, and that students at schools that do not enable the AI products will see a message that Search is not available1,5,6.

Google told Engadget that administrators will be able to enable those products individually rather than as a single switch, a point the company also made on X after criticism2,3.

CNBC reported that Google's follow-up post did not directly say whether Search can run without AI, and that a spokesperson pointed to the X statement4.

Ars Technica and The Verge described the practical result as no Search without Google's AI features, because the company is not offering a non-AI school search product1,5.

Google said it is adding Guided Learning to Search for student accounts so homework-style queries get step-by-step coaching instead of a finished answer, with a pilot in select U.S. schools later this month and Guided Learning already available worldwide in Classroom3,7.

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani said Google was using monopoly power to push AI into public schools; Sen. Bernie Sanders called pairing Search with AI a threat to schools, and Sen. Richard Blumenthal said Google was more concerned with putting Gemini in classrooms than with student success2,6.

Former FTC chair Lina Khan said the episode showed the risk of an unregulated monopolist controlling an essential service2,4,6.

Google said on X that schools asked for control over students using AI to shortcut work, and that it would keep talking with educators2,4.

Engadget noted New York City and Los Angeles have already limited generative AI for younger students, so districts that keep those bans would need other search tools if they stay on Google education accounts3.

Google said it will give schools more detail in the coming months before the control changes take effect7.

Sources

  1. Ars TechnicaGoogle will let schools skip AI tools, but they have to give up search, too
  2. TechCrunchGoogle faces backlash for plan that would turn off Search for schools that restrict AI
  3. EngadgetGoogle says students in schools that ban AI won't have access to Search - Engadget
  4. CNBCGoogle responds to political backlash over removing search from schools that ban AI
  5. The VergeGoogle is entirely disabling Search in schools that don't want AI
  1. CBS NewsGoogle will block search access for schools that ban AI use
  2. blog.googleDesigning responsible AI for learning

Read the original at Ars Technica ↗

How it’s being reported

7 sources

First reported by blog.googleblog.google

TechCrunchEngadgetCNBCThe VergeCBS News

Where they agree

  • K-12 student Gemini, Notebook, Classroom AI and Search will be off until administrators enable them.
  • Phillips said Search and AI are integrated, so rejecting AI means no Search on those accounts.
  • Guided Learning is rolling into Classroom globally and into Search as a U.S. school pilot.

Where they differ

Whether schools retain independent control of Search versus AI

Side by side

Each outlet's article broken down by our newsroom, in our own words. To read what they wrote, use the button under each one.

Ars Technica

Google will let schools skip AI tools, but they have to give up search, too

Schools cannot keep Search without accepting Google's AI stack.

Google will default K-12 AI and Search off, and treating Search as an AI product means blocking AI also blocks Search.

Leaves out The later company statement that products can be enabled one by one.

Schools cannot keep Search without accepting Google's AI stack.

What it reports

  • Gemini, Gemini Notebook, Gemini in Classroom and Search will be off for K-12 students until administrators turn them on.
  • Google education vice president Chris Phillips said Search and AI are deeply integrated.
  • Guided Learning in Search and Classroom is meant to coach students instead of handing answers.
  • A Guided Learning Search pilot in select U.S. schools is set to start later this month.

Leaves out The later company statement that products can be enabled one by one.

Read the original at Ars Technica Read the full article at Ars Technica
TechCrunchTechCrunch

Google faces backlash for plan that would turn off Search for schools that restrict AI

Political backlash and Google's follow-up that controls are per product.

U.S. officials criticized the Search-and-AI pairing; Google said schools can enable Gemini, Notebook and Search separately.

Political backlash and Google's follow-up that controls are per product.

What it reports

  • Sen. Bernie Sanders, Sen. Richard Blumenthal, Lina Khan and New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani criticized the plan.
  • Google said on X that Gemini, Gemini Notebook and Search can be turned on individually.
  • The company said it made the changes after educators asked for more control over AI shortcuts.
Read the original at TechCrunch Read the full article at TechCrunch
EngadgetEngadget

Google says students in schools that ban AI won't have access to Search - Engadget

Clarification that controls are not all-or-nothing, plus existing school AI bans.

Google told Engadget administrators can enable products individually, while Search still depends on AI being allowed.

Clarification that controls are not all-or-nothing, plus existing school AI bans.

What it reports

  • The company is reversing a summer default-on AI change in Classroom.
  • New York City and Los Angeles have restricted generative AI for younger students.
  • Teachers will be able to see transcripts of Guided Learning chatbot sessions.
Read the original at Engadget Read the full article at Engadget
CNBCCNBC

Google responds to political backlash over removing search from schools that ban AI

Google's X response and the company's refusal to directly answer whether Search requires AI.

Google said AI Mode and AI Overviews in school Search will use step-by-step Guided Learning after officials objected.

Google's X response and the company's refusal to directly answer whether Search requires AI.

What it reports

  • Google said Gemini, Gemini Notebook and Search start off and schools choose what to restore.
  • A spokesperson referred CNBC to the X post rather than answering whether Search requires AI.
  • Common Sense Media rated Google AI Overviews an unacceptable risk; senators have inquired about classroom AI.
Read the original at CNBC Read the full article at CNBC
The VergeThe Verge

Google is entirely disabling Search in schools that don't want AI

No way to keep Search while disabling Gemini features.

Administrators will not get a Search toggle that leaves Gemini-powered features off.

Leaves out Google's later X post on individual product switches.

No way to keep Search while disabling Gemini features.

What it reports

  • Students at schools that reject the AI features will see a notice that Search is unavailable.
  • Google Classroom is used by more than 150 million teachers and students, per Google.
  • Lawmakers pressed Google last month on classroom AI.

Leaves out Google's later X post on individual product switches.

Read the original at The Verge Read the full article at The Verge
CBS NewsCBS News

Google will block search access for schools that ban AI use

Officials calling the policy an abuse of search dominance.

CBS reported Google's blog on school control and criticism from Mamdani and Khan after Search was tied to AI.

Officials calling the policy an abuse of search dominance.

What it reports

  • Google said it surveyed administrators and teachers before changing controls.
  • Mamdani said no corporation should dictate how children are taught.
  • Khan said courts have found Google liable for antitrust violations.
Read the original at CBS News Read the full article at CBS News