Google revealed on Tuesday that it will turn off AI tools for K-12 students starting next year unless school administrators choose to activate them explicitly. According to the tech giant, the shift comes after discussions with schools, teachers, top researchers, and policymakers. Consequently, Google is reworking its strategy across Gemini, NotebookLM, Gemini in Classroom, and Google Search. This means that schools opting to restrict AI entirely will lose access to Google Search as well, since 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," which means that if a school chooses to restrict AI altogether, students "will not have access to search, and they'll see a message from their school that indicates it's not available."

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This change creates a dilemma for schools. Even though teachers might not want students using AI Overviews in Google Search for research or assignments, they probably still want them to access the search engine to find sources and other learning materials. But Google Search and its AI features can no longer be separated. Considering how dominant Google's app suite is in classrooms and how widely Chromebooks are used, this decision highlights the company's sway over education. Schools that wish to keep using Google Search must accept its AI features. "We'll share more specifics with schools in the coming months ahead of the changes rolling out so they have time to prepare and enable a smooth transition," Phillips wrote in a blog post. "Our goal is simple: provide school leaders the control and confidence to use AI products in classrooms as they see fit."

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Google announced this upcoming change together with the launch of Guided Learning in schools. The tool, introduced earlier this year, works somewhat like an AI tutor, designed to help users develop deep understanding rather than just obtaining answers. The launch happens amid worries that AI chatbots weaken the learning process by producing direct answers.