Google: Schools can keep search while skipping Gemini, but AI search is non-negotiable

Google faced the ire of educators and parents earlier this week when it announced a new AI policy for K–12 schools. Google said that it developed its new approach to give schools more control, but early reporting also suggested Google would block search access for schools that didn’t want to use AI. Google didn’t see the backlash coming, but now that it’s here, the search giant is clarifying what exactly its new policy means and what’s changing.

The gist of the new policy, according to Google’s blog post, is that schools using Google apps will have to opt into its AI products going forward. Since the company considers search part of its AI portfolio (Gemini, Gemini Notebook, Gemini in Classroom, and Search), schools have to specifically turn that on for logged-in student accounts.

When Google revealed its new policy, the company’s VP for education spoke exclusively to The New York Times, which interpreted the situation as Google will “turn off search” if schools reject AI. This has a nefarious vibe, but it’s probably not the most accurate way to describe how Google’s educational AI system will operate. Google’s approach may not be entirely altruistic, but it technically offers schools more choice and control than they have now. Instead of Google turning off search, it will let schools make that decision based on their internal AI policies.

The company clarified in a tweet that it will allow schools to disable Gemini apps while leaving search active for students. If they don’t want any AI, they can leave it all off. Essentially, Google is giving schools that want to completely block AI the ability to go all the way, even removing search from student accounts.

A Google spokesperson tells Ars that the company has not made any changes to the new policy it announced this week. However, the vagueness of Google’s blog post and public statements didn’t fully explain what it plans to do. There are still reasons to dislike Google’s approach, but here’s how the company explains the process for schools:

As things currently stand, schools can block the Gemini app, but the AI tools in search (AI Overviews and AI Mode) are still present and offer many of the same intellectual shortcuts. When schools choose which AI features to use under this new system, search will be one of the options. Schools can leave search off if they want, but opting in will require them to choose the standard AI features or the new Guided Learning version, which won’t give away answers as readily (or so Google claims).

Can’t get away from AI

Schools are gaining the ability to block Google’s AI tools, even those in search, while keeping other Google apps. Notably, the company’s new approach to “responsible AI for learning” does not include the ability to use search without AI. So schools get more control, even if they don’t get the AI-free search everyone seems to want.

Many will argue that Google should let schools access web search without chatbots. However, that’s just not something Google wants to support at any level because it sees AI as the future of search. While other search engines have settings to turn off AI tools, Google steadfastly refuses to create such a toggle (and those no-AI tricks you rely on may not work forever). Ultimately, this is the core problem not just for education customers, but for everyone who wants to limit their exposure to AI while using Google.

This clarification does not change the calculus for educators who want to allow students to search the Internet without AI tools. Google won’t offer that, and switching to another provider is easier said than done. Google still has by far the most expansive index of the Internet, leaving alternatives with numerous gaps. That may change in the near future, though. As a result of Google’s loss in the DOJ’s search antitrust case, it will have to provide competitors limited access to its index of the web. This could give other provides a chance to improve and offer a more viable alternative to Google.

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