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Google will let schools skip AI tools, but they have to give up search, too
Ars Technica • • business
Key Points:
- Google will let educators decide whether to enable AI tools in classrooms, with schools opted out by default and administrators needing to manually activate them.
- The AI tools include Gemini, Gemini Notebook, Gemini in Classroom, and Google Search, which are bundled together—schools cannot enable AI selectively without losing access to search.
- Google views search as inherently integrated with AI, and if AI is disabled, students will lose access to Google Search entirely, receiving a message that search is unavailable.
- Two AI search options will be available for schools that enable AI: the standard Gemini-based AI and a “Guided Learning” version designed to offer tutoring without giving direct answers.
- Google anticipates that schools will accept AI to retain search functionality, potentially influencing students' early exposure to AI, while schools opposing this approach may consider alternatives like DuckDuckGo.
