Dispute with schools
Earlier this week, The New York Times reported that Google is pressuring schools that do not want to use AI: according to the newspaper, the company is threatening to withdraw their access to its search engine.
The report angered teachers and politicians. Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders accused Google of “extortion.” Connecticut Senator Richard Blumenthal said the company was once again putting profits ahead of people, writing that Google cared more about bringing Gemini into schools than about students’ success. New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani said no corporation should decide how children are taught.
Google now places AI Overviews above the usual links in Search. They provide confidently worded answers that may be wrong or inaccurate. Teachers worry this is making it harder for students to learn the material.
Google proposes a learning mode
Requests for AI-free search are not limited to schools: users have also asked Google for a way to turn off AI Overviews. The company could add such a setting, but its response to The New York Times report suggests it has no plans to change its approach.
Google said it is expanding schools’ options and updating Search for learning. The company said AI Mode and AI Overviews will help students work through problems step by step, rather than giving them quick, ready-made answers to school assignments.
Schools, however, were asking for something else: the option to use Google Search without AI in classrooms. The company’s response suggests it is not considering that option.
What schools can use instead of Google Search
Educational institutions may find it difficult to leave Google’s services: its products are widely used in schools, from Gmail to Chromebook. But alternatives to its search engine exist, and Google’s competitors are hoping to attract new users.
Allison Goodman, senior communications manager at search engine DuckDuckGo, said there are no technical barriers preventing Google from turning off AI. In her account, AI Overviews are just another Search feature, like maps, flights or weather forecasts: Google decides when to show them. Goodman also noted that DuckDuckGo can be used without AI, and schools can choose it as their primary search engine.
Dataist’s take: the disagreement comes down to who controls whether AI appears in school search—the school itself or the service provider. Google is proposing a different way to use AI, but does not address the request for search without it. Switching to DuckDuckGo is an option, though the widespread use of Google’s other services could make the transition harder.
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