Google says schools that reject AI will lose Search next year

Google says it will turn off its AI services for students by default next year, and schools that reject AI may lose access to Google Search. The reason is simple: Search is an AI product. Schools can switch on Search, the Gemini chatbot and a related tool called Gemini Notebook on their own.

What changed

Google moved after pressure from some schools that want more control over the technology. The announcement drew quick criticism. Business Insider points out the catch: Google has used AI in Search for about a decade. Its RankBrain system arrived in 2015, and a language model called BERT began powering Search in late 2019.

Old AI and new AI

Older AI helps Google understand searches and rank websites. Newer generative AI goes further by writing answers instead of listing links. Search features like AI Overviews and AI Mode summarize information and deliver answers directly. That is convenient, but it puts another layer between students and the original evidence. Traditional Search generally pointed people to websites where they could investigate for themselves.

Ethan Smith, CEO of Graphite, a company that helps businesses grow through search engines and AI, says Google could technically offer schools a stripped-down Search without those two features. "I think they just don't want to because it's not worth the effort," he said. He believes demand for such a version would be tiny.

Why Google is holding firm

Competition is one reason. An OpenAI executive recently said ChatGPT now handles search-like requests equal to roughly 20% of Google's search volume. That is not the same as 20% of the search market, but it shows how fast habits are changing. Google also posted a big third-quarter miss on Search revenue, which adds pressure to keep evolving Search.

What students will see

Search will still include generative AI in schools that turn it on. Google says its educational features will guide students through problems instead of immediately handing over answers. That resembles OpenAI's Study Mode, which launched last year to make ChatGPT act more like a patient tutor. Whether these approaches actually improve learning is still an open question.

What to do

• Expect AI-written answers when kids use Google for homework.
• Ask your child's school which Google services it has switched on.
• Teach kids to open the original source and check it themselves.