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

What happened: Google told The New York Times it is entirely turning off Search in schools that reject its AI features. A Tuesday education update said Gemini, Gemini Notebook, Gemini in Classroom, and Google Search will be entirely off for K-12 student accounts unless administrators explicitly turn them on. Why it matters: Administrators cannot toggle Gemini-powered features off without also disabling Search. Google VP of education Chris Phillips told the NYT that Search and AI are deeply integrated.

Google told The New York Times it is entirely turning off Search in schools that reject its AI features. A Tuesday education update said Gemini, Gemini Notebook, Gemini in Classroom, and Google Search will be entirely off for K-12 student accounts unless administrators explicitly turn them on.

Administrators cannot toggle Gemini-powered features off without also disabling Search. Google VP of education Chris Phillips told the NYT that Search and AI are deeply integrated.