Google links classroom AI adoption to search access in K-12 schools

Google will disable artificial intelligence features in its K-12 educational applications unless school administrators explicitly activate them. The company announced the policy change on Tuesday, stating that the update allows institutions to manage student access to AI tools. The decision follows internal surveys of teachers and administrators that informed the new control settings.

The policy includes a mandatory linkage between AI tools and core search functionality. Schools that choose not to enable AI features in products like Classroom and Notebook will simultaneously lose access to the Google search engine. Chris Phillips, the company's vice president for Education, explained that AI capabilities are now deeply integrated into the search product. A district that bans AI use will see a message indicating the search tool is unavailable to its students and staff.

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani reacted swiftly to the announcement. In a social media post, he accused the company of using its market dominance to pressure public schools into adopting its products. Mamdani argued that no single corporation should dictate teaching methods. He emphasized that public schools exist to serve students, not to increase the profit margins of large technology firms.

The new Google policy directly affects New York City's recent AI guidelines. In September, the city's schools implemented a one-year ban on generative AI for students in grades 2-K through 8. This restriction covers all software with student-facing generative AI, including companion chatbots. The policy impacts nearly 600,000 students, which represents about two-thirds of the system's total enrollment.

Lina Khan, who served as chair of the Federal Trade Commission from 2021 to 2025, also criticized the move. Khan currently chairs the board of the New York City Economic Development Corporation. She stated that Google is exploiting its dominance in internet search. Khan noted that multiple courts have found the company liable for antitrust violations. She described the latest policy as a clear sign that the company remains unchastened.

Khan added that Google is punishing institutions that push back against AI use in schools. The company did not immediately respond to a request for comment regarding the new policy. The change takes effect immediately for K-12 student accounts, requiring administrators to make an active choice to enable AI features to retain search access.