AINov 4, 2026, 11:55 AM UTC·2 min read

Google to switch off AI for K-12 students unless schools opt in

Google will turn AI tools off by default for K-12 students next year. Schools that block AI entirely will also lose access to Google Search.

A student using a Chromebook in a classroom with the Google Search page open on screen. — Image: TechCrunch

SUMO

Dialo

ediviewer

Google said on Tuesday that it will disable its AI tools for K-12 students next year unless school administrators explicitly switch them on. The change affects Gemini, NotebookLM, Gemini in Classroom and Google Search, and follows consultations with schools, teachers, leading researchers and policymakers, the company says.

There is a catch. Schools that choose to restrict AI altogether will no longer be able to use Google Search, because AI features are now built into the search engine. Chris Phillips, Google's vice president for education, told The New York Times that "Search and AI are deeply integrated." Students at such schools "will not have access to search," he said, and will instead see a message from their school saying it is unavailable.

A dilemma for classrooms

The trade-off is awkward for educators. Teachers may not want students to rely on AI Overviews for research or assignments, yet they still want them to find sources and other learning materials through the search engine. Since Search and its AI features can no longer be separated, schools that want Search must accept the AI that comes with it.

Given how dominant Google's apps are in classrooms and how widely Chromebooks are used, the decision highlights the company's influence over the education sector.

Guided Learning arrives in schools

Google announced the change alongside the launch of Guided Learning in schools. The tool, unveiled earlier this year, works somewhat like an AI tutor and is designed to help users build deep understanding rather than simply hand over answers. Its arrival comes amid concern that AI chatbots undermine learning by giving direct answers.

Google says it will share more specifics with schools in the coming months, ahead of the rollout, so they have time to prepare. "Our goal is simple: provide school leaders the control and confidence to use AI products in classrooms as they see fit," Phillips wrote in a blog post.