Google says schools that ban AI will also lose search

Google is urging schools to adopt its AI services or face the removal of web search for students. According to Chris Phillips, Google's vice president and general manager for education, K-12 schools must enable Gemini and related services on student accounts or lose access to the company's search engine. The new policy turns off Gemini, Notebook, Classroom, and Search by default for K-12 student accounts until administrators choose to activate them.

If schools decide to ban AI entirely, students will no longer have access to Search, seeing a message stating the services are unavailable instead. Google aims to integrate AI, particularly Gemini, into educational platforms like Classroom, which boasts over 150 million users worldwide. This approach seeks to address cheating concerns while enhancing the AI experience for students.

However, Google is facing mounting opposition to the use of generative AI in US schools, with some officials banning or restricting AI access. The company acknowledges that monetizing AI-based search is challenging, as it currently generates less revenue than traditional search. Despite this, Google remains committed to promoting AI adoption among K-12 students.