Google plans school AI restrictions that also block student Search access

Google plans to turn off AI tools for K-12 students next year unless school administrators explicitly enable them. Schools that choose to block AI entirely will also lose student access to Google Search, TechCrunch reported, because its AI features are integrated into the search engine. The change covers Gemini, NotebookLM, Gemini in Classroom and Google Search. Google's education vice president, Chris Phillips, said students at schools restricting AI altogether would see a message indicating Search is unavailable. Google plans to share further details with schools in the coming months before the changes roll out.