Google says students in schools that ban AI won't have access to Search
Gotta get those AI user numbers up somehow.
AI Integration and School Policies
Google has updated its approach to controls for Gemini, Gemini Notebook, Gemini in Classroom and Google Search. Access to these products will be off for K-12 student accounts until school administrators explicitly turn them on.
Chris Phillips, Google's vice president and general manager for education, noted that administrators will be able to enable these products individually rather than through an all-or-nothing approach.
The company plans to roll out these updated controls following backlash earlier this year when certain AI features were enabled by default in the Classroom learning platform.
Search and AI Interdependence
Because Search and AI are deeply integrated, Phillips stated that if a school bans AI tools, students will not have access to Search and will instead see a message indicating the service is unavailable.
Chromebooks and Google education apps are widely used in schools, particularly in the United States, meaning districts that decline the new settings may need to evaluate alternative search engines and platforms.
Regulatory Restrictions and Guided Learning
Several jurisdictions have already limited generative AI access in schools, including moratoriums and bans enacted in New York City, Los Angeles, and across New York state regarding chatbot features for minors.
For districts that permit AI, Google offers Guided Learning in Classroom, which breaks problems down into step-by-step explanations and interactive quizzes rather than giving direct answers.
Google is also adding Guided Learning tools to Search for student accounts to help limit cheating by prompting critical thinking during complex problem-solving.
The company will test this approach in select US schools before a broader expansion, allowing teachers to access transcripts of chatbot interactions on student accounts.
