K-12 schools must keep Google AI on or lose Search next year
From next year, K-12 student accounts will only get Gemini tools and Google Search if administrators switch them on—and turning AI off also turns Search off.
Google will leave Gemini, NotebookLM, Gemini in Classroom, and Search off for K-12 student accounts next year unless administrators turn them on.
Schools cannot keep Search while blocking Gemini-powered features; Google says Search and AI are deeply integrated.
Chris Phillips, Google’s vice president of education, said students at schools that disable AI will see a school message that Search is not available.
Google says the shift follows talks with schools, teachers, researchers, and policymakers, with more rollout details due in the coming months.
Guided Learning, meant to coach students through problems rather than hand out answers, will be tested in select US schools this month inside AI Overviews in Search.