Google’s revised policy gives schools separate controls for Gemini, Gemini Notebook and Search, all off by default.
The change follows an initial announcement that linked disabling other AI features to losing Search.
DuckDuckGo is also approaching schools with its search engine, bringing service choice and data collection into the debate.
On November 3, 2026, Google announced that schools would be able to disable Gemini. The initial announcement also said that if they disabled other AI features, they would lose Google Search. Google Search includes features like AI Overviews, which display AI-powered answers, and AI Mode, where users can ask questions in a conversational format.
Following the backlash, Google said that Gemini, Gemini Notebook, and Search will be disabled by default. Schools will be able to enable each service individually. According to Google, the change was made in response to requests from schools who wanted more control.
DuckDuckGo sees the change as an opportunity to reach out to schools, where Google has a strong presence. Its founder and CEO, Gabriel Weinberg, pointed to guidelines on how schools can set DuckDuckGo as the default search engine and offered to help. The company’s head of public relations, Kamyl Bazbaz, accused Google of forcing artificial intelligence on children and called on schools to prove it wrong.
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In a message to TechCrunch, DuckDuckGo criticized the decision and said Google could easily disable the AI features of its school search. DuckDuckGo focuses on privacy by limiting data collection, but it doesn’t reject AI altogether. It offers Duck.ai, a chat interface, as well as an AI-powered search assistant. According to the company, users can disable these features in its search and browser settings. On the website noai.duckduckgo.com, AI-generated answers and images, as well as suggestions for related features, are disabled.
Google has released figures for about 50 million Chromebooks in schools. According to figures it has also released, Google Classroom serves over 150 million users worldwide. DuckDuckGo reported earlier in 2026 that its app installs grew by 30%.
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