NEW DELHI: In a move that may hinder the students to use to Google software in classrooms, the tech giant has said that schools that ban the use of its artificial intelligence (AI) tools such as Gemini, Gemini Notebook, Gemini in Classroom will also lose access to the company’s search engine.
Google has introduced a series of new AI products for classrooms and schools.
Roughly 150 million students and teachers across the globe use Google Classroom, and many students use school-provided Chromebooks, according to Google.
The tech giant drew criticisms in August after it activated its Gemini chatbot for many K-12 students. K-12 means the students enrolled in the primary and secondary education phases, spanning from kindergarten to the 12th grade. Earlier, Gemini tools were available for the students 18 or older.
Recently, Google said that AI tools would no longer be the default option for schools and it will be available only after the school authorities accord permission for it. However, the provision comes with a rider—Opting out of AI tools would also mean losing access to Google search engine.
“After listening to schools, teachers, leading researchers, and policymakers, we are now updating our approach to controls for Gemini, Gemini Notebook, Gemini in Classroom, and Google Search,” Chris Phillips, Google’s vice president and general manager of education, said in a blogpost.
For direct link to the blogpost, click here.
“Access to these products will be entirely off for K-12 student accounts until school administrators explicitly turn them on. Our goal is simple: provide school leaders the control and confidence to use AI products in classrooms as they see fit,” he said.
In a comment to the New York Times, Phillips said that there is no Google Search without AI. “Search and AI are deeply integrated,” said Phillips. A school-wide ban on AI would mean that students “will not have access to search, and they will see a message from their school that indicates it’s not available”, he said.
Google in a social media post on X said that it was aware of the concern about students using AI to shortcut schoolwork, and that schools had told us they want control.
“That’s exactly why we are making these changes today to address the feedback we’ve heard from educators in recent months. And we’ll continue to engage deeply with educators to ensure we are giving schools more choice, more controls, and improved Search for learning,” it posted on X.
We want to clarify what we announced today about our education services. Today’s announcements give schools more choice, not less. Here’s what we announced:
– Gemini, Gemini Notebook, and Search will be OFF 🔴 by default. This is based on K-12 schools asking for more control over student use of AI services.
– Schools are in control: They can choose to turn ON 🟢 one, two, or all of these services individually.
– We are also updating Search for schools to make it better for learning. Specifically, AI Mode and AI Overviews will offer step-by-step guided learning through problems, so that students don’t get quick answers to schoolwork.
We know there’s concern about students using AI to shortcut schoolwork, and schools have told us they want control. That’s exactly why we are making these changes today to address the feedback we’ve heard from educators in recent months. And we’ll continue to engage deeply with educators to ensure we are giving schools more choice, more controls, and improved Search for learning.
— News from Google (@NewsFromGoogle) November 3, 2026
Recently, a report by The Guardian highlighted that the New York City’s mayor, Zohran Mamdani, who recently imposed a one-year moratorium on generative AI tools in city schools through the eighth grade, said that Google was exploiting its near-total control of online search.
Josh Golin, executive director of children’s advocacy group Fairplay, told AP Newsroom that Google’s attempt to “strong-arm schools into using its AI products is likely to backfire.” He said Google’s technology in schools is not about learning but about “developing lifetime brand loyalty” for its products.
“Because AI is not safe for kids and undermines education and critical thinking, schools should turn off Google’s AI tools the minute that option becomes available,” Golin said in a statement.