Google is entirely disabling Search in schools that don’t want AI
TL;DR
Google is completely turning off Search in schools that reject its AI features, the company told The New York Times. The decision was also shared in a broader education-related update from Google on Tuesday, saying that access to 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 will not be given the option to toggle Gemini-powered features off without disabling Search, however.
Nauti's Take
School administrators should start with an account and policy matrix: which Gemini features reach students, what data flows through them, and whether Search can be replaced if needed. The report currently relies on coverage from The Verge and The New York Times.
Before turning it into a broad policy, schools should verify Google’s admin documentation and test the behavior on a dedicated account.
Summary
Google is completely turning off Search in schools that reject its AI features, the company told The New York Times. The decision was also shared in a broader education-related update from Google on Tuesday, saying that access to 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 will not be given the option to toggle Gemini-powered features off without disabling Search, however.
Sources