Google says schools can keep Search while turning off Gemini apps

In short: Google clarified that K–12 schools can turn off Gemini apps and still keep Google Search, but Search will still include Google’s AI features.

What happened

Google announced a new AI policy for K–12 schools that use Google’s education accounts. After educators and parents raised concerns, Google clarified what schools can and cannot switch off.

Google says schools will have to choose whether to turn on its AI products for logged-in student accounts. The company groups several products under this AI umbrella, including Gemini (its chatbot) and Google Search.

After early reports suggested schools might lose Search if they rejected AI, Google said schools can disable Gemini apps while leaving Search available. In other words, Google says the school, not Google, decides what is turned on.

Why it matters

The key limitation is that Google is not offering “Search without AI.” Schools can either allow Search with AI features included, or turn Search off entirely for student accounts. Those AI features include things like AI Overviews, which can generate summaries and answers at the top of results (like a built-in shortcut that tries to answer for you).

That leaves schools with more control, but not the option many were asking for: a normal search box with no AI layer on top. For districts trying to reduce cheating or encourage students to think through problems, this is a practical issue, not a technical one.

Source: Arstechnica