Google responds to criticism: Search and Gemini will be off by default in schools

Google responded to a wave of criticism over its new policy for schools. The company explained that access to Gemini, Gemini Notebook, and Search for student accounts will be turned off by default until school administrators enable it themselves. The response followed a report by The New York Times that Search would be disabled in schools that reject AI entirely.

Politicians reacted to the report. New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani wrote on X that “Google is trying to use its monopoly power to force AI into our public schools.” Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders said that “Google is threatening schools” and called the policy “extortion.” Former Federal Trade Commission Chair Lina Khan saw it as an example of “the danger of an unregulated monopolist controlling a vital service.”

Google pushed back, saying the changes are meant to give schools more choice: “schools are in control” and can enable any of the products or all of them. The company did not directly address the claim that access to Search requires AI. Chris Phillips, vice president for education, told the NYT: “Search and AI are deeply integrated.”

In its blog, Google clarified that access to Gemini, Gemini Notebook, Gemini in Classroom, and Search will be entirely disabled for K–12 student accounts until an administrator explicitly enables it. The company promised to share details with schools in the coming months, before the changes take effect.

The company also introduced Guided Learning, a mode that offers step-by-step guidance instead of a ready-made answer. It is already available worldwide in Google Classroom, while Search will begin a pilot in select U.S. schools this month: the system will guide students through a task—for example, a physics problem or an essay—without immediately providing the solution. According to Google, AI Mode and AI Overviews will work through problems step by step so students do not get quick answers to homework.