There has been some controversy in the US these days over several changes that Google wants to introduce regarding its use of AI in the country’s education centers. And as the company shared, it will disable its AI tools by default for compulsory education student accounts next year. However, the debate is rightly made because schools that don’t want any AI will also lose Google Search.
Google dominates schools. According to The New York Times, its Chromebooks are the most frequently seen student device in US classrooms, and more than 150 million teachers and students use its classroom platform around the world. There is a fairly deep political debate in the US right now about the use of AI in schools, and there are districts that want to ban its use. The problem is that they face a dilemma, because as things stand, either they take the AI overview or they leave the students without the Google search engine.
which Google announced. In a post on its blog on November 3, the company indicated that Gemini, Gemini Notebook, Gemini in the Classroom and Google Search will remain “completely disabled” for K-12 student accounts (K-12) until administrators choose to enable them. Those responsible for managing these apps in schools will be able to enable each service individually Google says it’s giving schools “more choice, not less” and is responding to complaints from teachers asking for more control over students’ use of AI.
the problem No separate switch for AI overviews, just AI-generated summaries on top of results. Chris Phillips, Google’s vice president of education, told the Times that “search and AI are deeply integrated.” Schools that choose to opt out of AI, it noted, won’t have access to the search and students will see a message saying it’s not available. The changes will take effect in early 2027, and Google said it will share details with schools in the coming months
What has changed since August? The company enabled Gemini features by default in classrooms that already allowed students to access the chatbot, but the move upset some school officials, according to the Times. Google is now reversing that default setting.
Google’s response. The company says it is integrating its guided learning features into AI search and student account summaries. Rather than providing a quick answer, it aims to guide the learner through the problem step-by-step, a design that Google says encourages “productive effort.” A pilot test is planned in some US schools this month, which will expand in the coming months.
Andpolitical action. The company’s decision is one of the central issues on the agenda of several political figures. Senator Bernie Sanders described the measure as “extortion” at X. Senator Richard Blumenthal said that “Google seems more concerned with imposing Gemini on schools than with student success.” Former FTC Chair Lina Khan said Google was using its “search monopoly to force schools,” and New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani said no corporation should “decide how kids are taught.”
On the other hand, Microsoft offers a Chrome extension to disable AI summary in Bing. But of course, Bing.
Cover image Nathana Rebokas
In Xataka | Google finally gives you the answer you are looking for the first time. And that is the root of your problem.
