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The Google EDU Update

📨 Google Admin Weekly: Is Google blocking search for students?

Published about 7 hours ago • 3 min read • Google Admin Weekly

Hello Reader,

On November 3, Google announced it was changing its default policy for generative AI tools:

After listening to schools, teachers, leading researchers, and policymakers, we are now updating our approach to controls for Gemini, Gemini Notebook, Gemini in Classroom, and Google Search. Access to these products will be entirely off for K-12 student accounts until school administrators explicitly turn them on. Source​

The days following this announcement were a disaster for Google’s public relations department. 🗑️🔥 The internet was flooded with headlines like these:

  • Google Will Turn Off Search for Schools That Reject A.I. (NY Times)
  • Google Will Disable Search for Schools Banning AI (Forbes)
  • Parents and teachers decry Google pledge to yank Search if schools block AI: ‘This threat is nothing but extortion (The Guardian)

The truth is a little more nuanced than these headlines would suggest. It IS possible to disable AI mode for students without cutting off search access completely, but you have to get creative. Let’s take a closer look at what’s going on and what you should do about it.

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AI Mode for Search

In 2024 Google began incorporating AI elements into their traditional search engine. By 2025, AI Mode and Lens Search became standard element of the search experience.

Since the launch of these features, Teachers and IT admins have expressed concern about student access to this version of search. Common Sense media labeled Google’s AI search an “unacceptible risk” in July of 2026. I have personally expressed my concern about AI search at several Google events I attended.

Google is addressing these concerns in two ways:

  • Guided Learning – starting in the coming months, users under the age of 18 will “see prompts to help them think critically and work through the concepts, without going directly to the answer.” This new experience is being piloted now and is expected to go live in early 2027.
  • Search Access Controls – if a district isn’t comfortable with students using AI mode for search, they have the option of turning off search entirely for students. These controls will be available in early 2027.

These are Google’s two official solutions, and a lot of districts aren’t happy with either one.

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How to Disable AI Mode for Search (my solution)

Google did not offer the ability to disable AI mode for search so that students can use the “traditional” search experience. Chris Philips, VP of education at Google told the New York Times that “Search and AI are deeply integrated,” suggesting that it was no longer possible to separate the two features.

👉 Google should provide an official way to disable AI mode for search. I don’t buy the explanation that search and AI are so intertwined that this can’t be done. I’m sure there are enough smart people working at Google who could figure this out.

As the IT admin for a half-dozen different districts, I refuse to wait around for someone else to come up with a solution. I’m in the business of figuring out solutions to complex problems.

You actually CAN disable AI mode and Google lens for students, you just have to get creative! It’s not a perfect solution, but it will get you 90% of the way there! See my full breakdown on how to disable AI mode for search step-by-step, in the video below, or read this blog post which contains the specific URLs you need to enter into the admin console to configure the search experience.

video preview​

The admin console contains thousands of policies and configuration options. Mastering the console is the best way to ensure that your district gets the features and safeguards that it needs. The primary purpose of this newsletter is to share tips and strategies to help you determine what is best for your district. And if you need a hand, I'm available to help!

Regards,

John R. Sowash

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John Sowash is a former teacher and an "accidental" Google Administrator. For more than a decade John has been helping schools use technology in meaningful ways. John lives in Michigan with his wife and five kids.

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by John Sowash

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