Education · 2026-11-03
Google will let schools turn off AI, but students will lose search too
Google now keeps AI tools off by default in its school products, but schools that turn them off also lose access to search.
What Google is changing
Google, whose education products are widely used in schools, has announced a new rule for AI in K-12 classrooms. Schools that use Google's education products will now have AI tools turned off by default. Administrators will need to enable them manually when the changes roll out in the coming months.
The company says it made this decision after consulting educators, researchers, and lawmakers.
Why the choice is hard
Schools cannot pick individual AI features. The AI tools Google includes are Gemini, Gemini Notebook, Gemini in Classroom, and Google Search itself. In other words, schools either allow all of it or none of it.
If a school turns AI off, students also lose regular Google Search. Google education VP Chris Phillips told The New York Times that "Search and AI are deeply integrated." She said students would not have access to search and would see a message from their school saying it is unavailable.
Google is not making a version of search for schools without AI. Instead, AI Overviews appear at the top of search results for most queries.
What Guided Learning is
When a school enables AI for student accounts, it gets two options: the standard Gemini-based AI and a new version called Guided Learning. Guided Learning is available in Classroom and in search.
Guided Learning is meant to offer one-on-one tutoring and help without giving away all the answers. Google notes that all of its generative AI products can make mistakes. The article's authors suggest that it may not be hard to get the chatbot to do homework anyway.
What schools can do
Schools that don't like Google's approach can switch to alternatives. One option is DuckDuckGo, which lets users disable AI features.
The key question for schools is whether Guided Learning will be enough to address their concerns about AI in learning.
Useful from the source
- Google: AI learning updates (official blog) — Google's official post about new AI tool changes for education.
- The New York Times: Google, search, and AI limits in schools — The New York Times article in which Google explains its approach to AI in schools.
Sources: 🔗 Ars Technica — AI🔗 DOU/dev.ua