Google will let schools disable its AI tools, but not without sacrificing Search

What happened: Google said it will disable AI tools for K-12 students next year unless school administrators explicitly turn them on, revising its approach across Gemini, NotebookLM, Gemini in Classroom, and Google Search. Why it matters: Because Google says Search and AI are deeply integrated, schools that restrict AI altogether lose access to Google Search, so schools wanting search must accept its AI features.

Google said it will disable AI tools for K-12 students next year unless school administrators explicitly turn them on, revising its approach across Gemini, NotebookLM, Gemini in Classroom, and Google Search.

Because Google says Search and AI are deeply integrated, schools that restrict AI altogether lose access to Google Search, so schools wanting search must accept its AI features.