Google says schools can keep search without enabling its AI tools
Administrators must now explicitly switch on search for logged-in student accounts, leaving the choice with schools.
Google drew criticism from educators and parents after unveiling an AI policy for K–12 schools that initially appeared to tie continued search access to acceptance of its AI tools. The company now says schools using its apps must opt in to AI products, and since it counts Search among those products, administrators must explicitly enable it for logged-in student accounts. Google maintains this gives institutions more control, and that schools, not Google, will decide whether AI features and search are switched on according to their own policies. Critics still view the arrangement as self-serving, even if it offers more choice than the prior setup. The clarification signals Google's effort to ease backlash without changing its underlying strategy of folding search into its AI portfolio.
Why it matters
The clarification means schools that do not want Google's AI features can still use search, but only if administrators actively enable it for students. Schools rather than Google will decide how AI and search are set up under their own policies. Critics still see the arrangement as favouring Google, even though it offers more choice than the earlier version reported.
Series Google AI tools in schools
- Google says schools can keep search without enabling its AI tools
- Google lets schools switch off its AI tools for students, but a school that does so also loses Search
- Google adds step-by-step Guided Learning to Classroom and tests it in Search
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