Google has clarified its new AI controls for K–12 schools after educators interpreted the policy as forcing a choice between Gemini and access to Search. Administrators will be able to disable Gemini applications while leaving Search available to logged-in student accounts.
The remaining limitation is that Google now treats Search itself as an AI product. Schools that enable it must choose the standard experience, which includes AI features, or a Guided Learning version designed to avoid giving answers as directly. There is no option that provides conventional Google Search without AI Overviews or AI Mode.
Schools can turn off all of those options and still use other Google applications. That gives administrators more control over student accounts than they have today, but it does not satisfy educators who want web search without generated answers.
Google says it sees AI as the future of Search and does not plan a no-AI toggle. Schools that reject the bundled approach can consider another search provider, although alternatives may have less complete indexes. The controls therefore expand choice inside Google’s suite while preserving the company’s broader shift toward AI-generated search.