Google disables Search for K-12 student accounts unless AI tools are enabled

Google announced that it will turn off access to its AI tools for K-12 student accounts, but with a condition: Google Search functionality will also be disabled alongside those AI tools. The company said schools should have control over AI in their classrooms.

According to Chris Phillips, Google's vice president and general manager of education, access to Gemini, Gemini Notebook, Gemini in Classroom, and Google Search will be entirely off for K-12 student accounts until school administrators explicitly turn them on. Phillips stated that search and AI are deeply integrated, meaning schools cannot have one without the other.

If AI tools are turned off, students will not have access to search and will see a message from their school indicating it is not available. Google said it is building Guided Learning capabilities into Search for student accounts to help them work through problems without skipping straight to answers.

The policy follows resistance from educators, child development experts, and parents regarding the use of Google's technology in schools. The reaction intensified after Google announced in August that it had activated its Gemini chatbot for many K-12 students using Google Classroom.

Previously, Google had only allowed Gemini to be activated for students aged 18 or older. Globally, the company claims 150 million students and teachers use its Google Classroom platform, and many students use school-provided Chromebooks.

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani criticized Google, saying the company is trying to use its monopoly power to force AI into public schools. The announcement received criticism from educators and public policy officials.

Google described the update as responsiveness and responsibility, framing it as giving administrators controls to help manage their approach to AI in classrooms.