Article · AI translation
Thanks to IT Home reader 华南吴彦祖 for the tip!
IT Home reported on November 4 that Google announced on November 3, local time, that it will change how artificial intelligence features are managed for K-12 (kindergarten through high school) education users starting in 2027. School administrators will need to enable the features before student accounts can use services including Gemini, NotebookLM, Gemini in Classroom and Google Search.
Google also made clear that if a school chooses to disable AI entirely, students will no longer be able to use Google Search.
According to Google's official announcement, the company will change how its education products are managed after consulting schools, teachers, researchers and policymakers. Once the new policy takes effect, Gemini, Gemini Notebook, Gemini in Classroom and Google Search will be off by default for school-managed K-12 student accounts and available only if school administrators authorize them. Google said the move is intended to let schools decide for themselves how AI tools are used in classrooms.
However, the policy also means schools cannot disable AI completely while retaining traditional search. Chris Phillips, Google's vice president and general manager of education, told The New York Times that search and artificial intelligence are now deeply integrated. If a school chooses to turn off AI features entirely, students will be unable to access Google Search and will see only a school-provided notice that the service is disabled when they try to use it.
According to technology outlet TechCrunch, schools currently cannot turn off AI features in Google Search separately while keeping traditional search available. For educational institutions that want students to keep using a search engine to find materials and compare sources, but do not want them exposed to generative AI features such as AI Overview, this means they must choose between the two.
Google's changes also cover the AI-assisted learning feature Guided Learning (IT Home note: the feature is designed to guide students to understand problems for themselves through questions, step-by-step explanations and interactive exercises, rather than giving them answers directly). Google has announced that it will bring Guided Learning to Google Classroom and plans to integrate related capabilities into Google Search for student accounts.
Google said Guided Learning will first be piloted in some U.S. schools, with coverage expanded gradually after it gathers teacher feedback. According to the official announcement, the company hopes the feature will allow AI to play a supporting role in classroom learning.
Previously, some educational institutions and parents had expressed concern that AI tools could affect students' independent thinking, how they complete assignments and their learning process. Google is now making these tools off by default and requiring schools to enable them, but the link between search and AI features has also prompted new discussion.