WORLD - Google is introducing new controls allowing schools to restrict students’ access to its artificial intelligence (AI) tools, including its Gemini assistant.
However, schools that choose to disable AI entirely will also lose access to Google Search, raising questions about how the company is balancing educational needs with its expanding AI services.
The policy change, announced Tuesday, November 3, marks a shift in how students and educators interact with one of the world's largest providers of educational technology. Google's Chromebook laptops are used by tens of millions of students, including children as young as kindergarten age.
The move comes amid growing calls from parents, educators and policymakers for stricter limits on screen time and AI use in schools. Concerns have increased over the potential effects of AI on students' learning and development, as well as possible safety risks.
AI Features to Be Disabled by Default
Google said its AI-powered products, including Gemini and AI features in Search, will be disabled by default for K-12 student accounts. School administrators will have to explicitly enable them.
The decision reverses an earlier move in August, when Google began enabling Gemini by default in its Google Classroom application.
According to Chris Phillips, Google's vice president of education, the changes respond to requests from educators and policymakers seeking greater control over how AI is used in classrooms.
However, Phillips told The New York Times that schools opting to disable AI will also lose access to Google Search because the two technologies are increasingly integrated. Students attempting to use the search engine at those schools will instead see a message indicating that the service is unavailable.
Google has increasingly incorporated AI into Search through features such as AI Overviews, which generate summaries at the top of search results, and AI Mode, which allows users to ask more detailed questions.
Google Defends the Policy as Offering More Choice
In response to questions about the restrictions, Google said schools would be able to enable Gemini, Gemini Notebook and Search individually.
The company described the changes as providing schools with "more choice, not less." However, its explanation suggested that traditional Search may not remain available independently of its AI features.
Google has not yet provided detailed information about how the controls will operate or what students will see when attempting to access restricted services. Phillips said the company would share further details in the coming months to give schools time to prepare.
Guided Learning and Growing Pushback
The announcement forms part of a broader update to Google's educational AI tools, centered on what the company calls "guided learning."
Under this approach, AI systems will encourage students to work through problems step by step rather than simply providing answers. For example, students seeking homework assistance through Search may receive guided explanations designed to support their understanding.
Other technology companies are also promoting AI as a learning tool. OpenAI introduced ChatGPT for Teens in August, including safety features and a Study Mode that allows students to work through questions.
However, Google's announcement drew criticism from New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, who opposed the city's AI restrictions on schools being undermined by technology providers.
In a post on X on Tuesday, Mamdani accused Google of attempting to "force" AI into schools, arguing that no corporation should have the power to dictate how children are taught.
