Google announced on Tuesday that students using its software in K-12 classrooms will lose access to Google Search unless their school also opts into its AI features. Google says Search is now deeply integrated with AI, so administrators cannot switch off Gemini while keeping Search. Gemini, Gemini Notebook and Search are off by default until schools enable them.
The change follows Google’s August decision to open Gemini to many K-12 students, which drew criticism from educators and parents. Google says 150 million students and teachers use Google Classroom and that the controls give “schools more choice, not less.” Rollout starts in the United States, with no date set.
Critics say it pressures schools into adopting AI. Former FTC chair Lina Khan accused Google of leveraging its search dominance, and Fairplay’s Josh Golin urged schools to turn off Google’s AI tools and find other search options. New York City and Los Angeles have temporarily banned generative AI in elementary and middle schools.