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Google tells K-12 schools: block AI, lose Search access

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TL;DR

  • Starting early 2027, Gemini, Gemini Notebook, Gemini in Classroom and Google Search will all be off by default for school-managed K-12 student accounts until admins opt in.
  • Districts that block Google's AI tools entirely will also lose student access to Search, with students shown a message that the service is unavailable.
  • Schools that opt in choose between a consumer-style Search with AI Overviews and AI chat or a Guided Learning mode powered by Gemini.

Google has told K-12 schools that if they block its AI tools, students will also lose access to Google Search, according to The New York Times. The policy takes effect in early 2027.

Starting then, Gemini, Gemini Notebook, Gemini in Classroom and Google Search will all be off by default for K-12 student accounts managed by schools, and will only turn on when an administrator explicitly enables them. There is no middle setting.

Chris Phillips, vice president of education at Google, told the paper that "search and A.I. are deeply integrated." Students at schools that ban AI, he said, "will not have access to search, and they'll see a message from their school that indicates it's not available."

Districts that opt in pick one of two Search flavors for students: "a consumer-style experience with AI Overviews and AI chat, or a Guided Learning mode powered by Gemini." Phillips said Google will "share more specifics with schools in the coming months ahead of the changes rolling out so they have time to prepare."

A number of school districts, including New York City and Los Angeles public schools, banned generative AI tools for many or all students this school year. Under the new default, those are among the districts now facing a Search cutoff. It is Google's 203rd story in our tracker over the past 90 days.

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Originally reported by nytimes.com

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Original headline: Google tells schools: block all AI and we'll turn off student access to Search