Google is entirely disabling Search in schools that don’t want AI

Google has announced that it will completely disable Search in schools that opt out of its AI features. In an update on Tuesday, Google said access to Gemini, Gemini Notebook, Gemini in Classroom, and Google Search will be entirely off for K-12 student accounts unless administrators explicitly turn them on. However, administrators will not be able to disable Gemini-powered features while keeping Search enabled. Chris Phillips, Google's vice president of education, told The New York Times that "Search and AI are deeply integrated" and that schools disabling AI features "will not have access to search" and will see a message indicating it is unavailable. The decision follows Google's move earlier this year to turn on Gemini by default in Google Classroom, which is used by over 150 million teachers and students globally. That move drew skepticism amid reports of declining test scores, and last month lawmakers pressed Google on the "potential harms" of its AI products in schools. Google is also attempting to address concerns about students using AI to find "shortcuts" by embedding its Guided Learning feature into AI Overviews in Search, with testing to begin in select US schools this month.

(Source：The Verge)