Google announced it will disable its AI tools for K-12 students by default in the coming school year unless school administrators explicitly enable them. The change spans Gemini, NotebookLM, Gemini in Classroom, and Google Search, and follows consultations with schools, teachers, researchers, and policymakers. Because Google Search now has AI features deeply integrated, schools that choose to restrict AI altogether will lose access to Search entirely. Chris Phillips, Google‘s vice president for education, told The New York Times that “Search and AI are deeply integrated,” so students at such schools “will not have access to search, and they’ll see a message from their school that indicates it’s not available.”

The decision creates a dilemma for schools. Educators may not want students using AI Overviews in Google Search for research or assignments, but they likely still want them to be able to use Search to find sources and learning materials. However, Search and its AI features are no longer separable. Given Google‘s dominance in classrooms through its app suite and Chromebooks, the change underscores the company’s influence: schools that want Search must accept AI features.

Phillips wrote in a blog post that Google will share more specifics with schools in the coming months so they can prepare and enable a smooth transition. “Our goal is simple: provide school leaders the control and confidence to use AI products in classrooms as they see fit.” The announcement accompanied the launch of Guided Learning in schools, a tool revealed earlier this year that acts like an AI tutor, designed to help users build deep understanding rather than just get answers. The rollout comes amid concerns that AI chatbots undermine learning by offering direct answers.