Google says schools that block its AI tools for students will also block access to Google Search, as the company rolls out new AI products and updated controls for classrooms.
The company said access to Gemini, Gemini Notebook, Gemini in Classroom and Google Search will be turned off for K-12 student accounts until school administrators enable the products. Google said the revised controls followed discussions with schools, teachers, 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 blocks AI across the board, students will lose access to Search and see a message saying it is unavailable, he said.
The policy drew criticism from New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, who said Google was using its position in online search to push AI into public schools. Lina Khan, a former chair of the US Federal Trade Commission, also accused the company of using its search dominance to pressure schools into adopting AI.
Google’s new classroom offerings include Guided Learning, an AI study tool designed to guide students through problem-solving rather than simply provide answers. The company plans to integrate it into Search, where it could offer prompts to help students work through questions such as physics problems or book reports.
Lila Byock, founder of the parent-and-teacher coalition Schools Beyond Screens, described the announcement as a “hostile ultimatum” and called for regulators to prevent technology companies from exploiting students for profit.
Sources: The Guardian World.