Google plans to disable AI by default in schools, with a limitation involving Search

Google plans to disable its artificial intelligence tools by default for primary and secondary school students next year, TechCrunch reports. Activating them will require an explicit decision by school administrators. The revision covers Gemini, NotebookLM, Gemini in Classroom and Google Search. The company says it consulted schools, teachers, researchers and public officials.

The proposed control has a major limitation: schools that want to exclude AI entirely will also lose access to Google Search. Chris Phillips, Google’s head of education, tells The New York Times, as quoted by TechCrunch, that search and AI features are deeply integrated. Affected students will see a message from their school indicating that the service is unavailable.

Google is accompanying this announcement with the launch of Guided Learning in schools. Introduced earlier in the year, this tool is designed to help users deepen their understanding rather than provide them with answers directly. This presentation describes an educational intention; it does not establish a measured learning benefit.

The announcement thus raises separate questions about service governance and the educational suitability of the tools. To assess the arrangement, education teams will need to know the precise activation procedures and examine the uses for which Guided Learning is suited. Google plans to share further details before the rollout. Assessment of the proposed controls therefore remains dependent on those details.