Google will turn off AI for school kids, but Search goes with it

Google plans to turn off its AI tools for K-12 students next year unless school leaders switch them on. There is a catch. Schools that want AI off everywhere will also lose Google Search for students, because the two are now tied together.

What changed

Google announced the plan on Tuesday. It covers Gemini, NotebookLM, Gemini in Classroom and Google Search. K-12 means kindergarten through 12th grade. Google says it made the change after talking with schools, teachers, leading researchers and policymakers.

Chris Phillips, Google's vice president for education, told The New York Times that "Search and AI are deeply integrated." If a school restricts AI altogether, students "will not have access to search," and they will see a message from their school saying it is not available.

Teachers may not want students using the AI answers in Search for research or assignments. They likely still want students to use Search to find sources and learning materials. Right now, that middle option does not appear to exist. Because Google apps and Chromebooks are so common in classrooms, the change shows how much influence the company has in education.

What is not known yet

Google says it will share more specifics with schools in the coming months, ahead of the rollout, so they have time to prepare. No exact dates were given. Google announced the change alongside Guided Learning in schools, a tool that works somewhat like an AI tutor and aims to build understanding instead of just handing out answers.