Technology and Scienceupdated 27m ago3 min read
Google Blocks Gemini Autoplay in Schools, Threatens Search Access Without AI
“could leave students without access to Google Search”
“it technically offers schools more choice and control”
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Google will disable Gemini AI tools by default in K-12 accounts unless enabled by administrators. Schools that block AI could lose access to Google Search for students.
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Search tied to AI
Google said it would stop autoplay of its AI tools in schools, and it warned that students would also be deprived of its search engine because schools would not be able to provide Google Search without AI features. Chris Phillips told The New York Times that “search and AI are deeply integrated,” and he added that if a school bans AI, “students will not be able to access the search engine, and they will see a notice from their school stating that it is unavailable.” Google said it would block autoplay of the Gemini AI model, as well as Gemini within the Notebook and Classroom apps, for students from kindergarten through 12th grade until school administrators enable them.
Google also said the changes would be rolled out globally, with no set date yet, and it said the Gemini chatbot had been activated for many K-12 students in August in the Classroom app for students of all ages. Eric Adams accused Google on X of “trying to leverage its monopoly to force the use of AI in our public schools,” and he wrote, “No company should have the power to dictate how our children are taught.”
Opt in or lose
Google’s education policy said schools using Google apps would have to opt into its AI products going forward, and Google considered search part of its AI portfolio including Gemini, Gemini Notebook, Gemini in Classroom, and Search. Google clarified in a tweet that it would allow schools to disable Gemini apps while leaving search active for students, and it said schools that do not want any AI can leave it all off. The New York Times framed the condition as a loss of access, and Lina Khan said Google was using its “monopoly in search” to coerce schools into adopting its AI.
Quinta Fuerza described Google’s approach as denying access to the search engine to schools and students who disable AI tools, and it said Google was “forcing users to use that system.” Google said it would disable by default Gemini, Gemini Notebook, and Gemini in Classroom, as well as Google Search, for K-12 student accounts until “school administrators explicitly enable them,” according to Chris Phillips in a blog post.
Guided Learning alternative
Google said schools that permit AI use will be able to offer students one of two search options, Google Search’s standard version with AI-generated summaries called AI Overviews, or a teaching-focused version powered by Guided Learning. Chris Phillips said “Search and A.I. are deeply integrated,” and he explained that schools that ban AI “will not have access to search, and they'll see a message from their school that indicates it's not available.” Google said it would roll out Guided Learning in Search in a pilot program later this month in selected U.S. schools, and it said the Guided Learning feature would be globally available in Google Classroom.
“In a statement on X, Google said the changes made on Tuesday give ‘schools more options, not fewer.’”
The policy drew political criticism, and Bernie Sanders called the measure an “extortion” and said Google was pressuring schools by conditioning student access to Search and its AI tools on administrators' decisions. Google said it wanted to give schools “more options, not fewer,” and it added that it knew there were concerns about students using AI to shortcut their homework while schools told it they wanted to maintain control.