Google Search Will Be Unavailable if Schools Block AI for K-12 Students

Google plans to make artificial intelligence tools opt-in for K-12 student accounts next year, and schools that block AI altogether will also lose student access to Search.

The planned controls cover Gemini, NotebookLM, Gemini in Classroom and Google Search. AI features will be off for students unless school administrators turn them on.

Search will be affected when a school chooses to block AI altogether because AI features are integrated into the search engine. Schools that want students to keep using Google Search will have to allow those AI features.

Google said the change follows consultations with schools, teachers, leading researchers and policymakers. The announcement comes after U.S. senators questioned Google about student safeguards and school control over AI settings.

Google plans to share more rollout details in the coming months, giving schools time to prepare and enable access.