Google to adjust school AI settings next year; a full ban will make search unavailable.

Google will default-disable its AI tools for K-12 students starting next year unless school administrators opt in, affecting Gemini, NotebookLM, Gemini in Classroom, and Google Search. Because AI features are now integrated into Search, schools that restrict AI entirely will leave students unable to use Google Search, instead seeing a notice that the service is unavailable. Google said it will share more details with schools over the coming months so they can prepare for the change. The policy matters because it ties access to core search functionality to schools' AI governance decisions, potentially disrupting classroom workflows. Watch for Google's implementation guidance and how districts choose between enabling AI tools and losing Search access.