Google announced on Tuesday that its AI tools and Search will be off for K-12 student accounts until a school turns them on. Chris Phillips, Google's vice president and general manager of education, told The New York Times that schools that ban AI "will not have access to search." After a backlash, Google said later that day that schools will be able to turn on Search without its Gemini chatbot. Search will still come with AI Overviews, though, and schools won't be able to get a version without them. Google hasn't set a start date, and reports point to early 2027. About 150 million students and teachers use Google Classroom. New York City and Los Angeles restricted student AI this fall. Now districts are picking sides. Albany switched off Gemini and AI Mode, and New York City has asked Google to remove the AI summaries for its students.

Google Is Using Its Search Monopoly to Force AI on Kids

Critics say a company that lost antitrust cases is now leaning on schools with the same power.

Google is strong-arming schools. New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani said Google is "trying to use its monopoly power to force AI into our public schools." Former Federal Trade Commission Chair Lina Khan said Google "is using its search monopoly to coerce schools into adopting AI." Google has already lost antitrust cases over its search and ad businesses. Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont said "Google is threatening schools" and called the policy "extortion." David PBL Ross, an education technology veteran, wrote Thursday that the policy "increases the pressure on schools to accept generative AI within Search."

Teachers' unions say Google put its business ahead of kids. Melinda Person, president of New York State United Teachers, said "Google doesn't get to hold school districts hostage just to force its AI products into our classrooms." Randi Weingarten, president of the American Federation of Teachers, said Google "has prioritized its business interests over the education of our children."

And the AI Isn't Safe or Proven for Kids Yet

Child-safety groups say schools need plain Search, and Google won't offer it.

Google's AI search tools already failed a safety test. In July, Common Sense Media rated Google Search's AI features an "unacceptable risk" for kids. Its testers found AI Mode fully answered all 180 homework assignments they tried. The AI answers also missed signs of suicidal thoughts. Stanford's SCALE Initiative says there are no high-quality causal studies of student AI use.

Schools need Search without the AI. "Having Google Search without AI search is the best option," said Yvette Renteria, a former principal who is now Common Sense Media's chief program officer. She called the new off-by-default setting a partial fix. She also said smaller districts "may not have the personnel" to block AI on their own.

Schools should walk away from Google. Josh Golin, executive director of the children's group Fairplay, urged schools to help students find "more privacy-protective alternatives for search." He said Google's push is "likely to backfire." Seattle author Emily Cherkin, who writes about kids and technology, called the policy "blackmail." She said its one upside is that schools may "untether themselves from Google products."

Search Runs on AI Now, and Schools Will Get More Control

Google says it's giving schools a switch they didn't have in August.

Google says it can't pull Search and AI apart now. "Search and AI are deeply integrated," Phillips said. Elizabeth Reid, Google's head of Search, said in May that Search is now AI-driven. Phillips said schools that want AI off "have the choice to not have Search on at all."

Google is reversing what it did in August. In August, Google opened Gemini in Classroom to students of every age, in any district that had already turned it on. Under the new rules, nothing will be on until a school says yes. "We believe schools should have control over AI in their classrooms," Phillips said. Google said the changes "give schools more choice, not less."

Google says the student version will coach kids step by step. Google says AI Mode and AI Overviews for students will walk them through problems step by step so they "don't get quick answers to schoolwork." Its Guided Learning tutor in Classroom lets teachers read students' chat transcripts. Google plans to test the step-by-step Search at select U.S. schools this month.

Keeping Search Is Worth It, at Least for Now

Some district leaders say they'll take the trade rather than lose Search.

Losing Search would hurt more than the AI does. Shannon Shine, superintendent of New York's Mohonasen school district, said his district already has Gemini available. He found "hardly any" Gemini use in kindergarten through fifth grade. "If in order to keep any search access at all we have to keep the AI component open, I'm good with that, at least for now," he said.

Albany can live with Google's fix. Albany's district turned off Gemini and AI Mode but can't remove the AI summaries. "We were glad to see the update from Google," said spokesman Ron Lesko. A Los Angeles Unified spokesperson said the district is reviewing the change. The district thinks AI can help teaching if it comes with safeguards.

Where This Lands

Critics like Mamdani and Khan say Google is using its Search monopoly to push AI into classrooms. Child-safety groups say Google's AI search tools aren't safe or proven for kids, and schools deserve plain Search. Google says Search is AI now, and schools will have more control than they did in August. Some district leaders will keep the AI to keep Search. New York City has asked Google to turn off the AI summaries for its students. Google plans to test step-by-step Search for students at select U.S. schools this month.

Sources