Most school districts have spent the last few months carefully configuring the settings for the Gemini app—deciding who gets access, when, and how. But there is another way to access Gemini that often flies under the radar: Gemini AI in Google Search
This integration is challenging to manage because it lives inside the core search experience, not a separate app. Entering “AI Mode” is similar to having access to the Gemini app for Google Workspace.
Blocking Gemini AI in Google search is difficult, but there are three specific configurations you can push out today to reduce student access to AI features during searches.
I recognize that there are school districts at many stages of AI adoption. These instructions are for districts who are not yet ready to provide students with sanctioned access to generative AI tools. These ideas will be helpful, but are not a substitute for effective classroom management and teacher-led discussions about the use of AI in the classroom.
Here are three settings to block Gemini AI in Google Search
1. Block access to AI Mode for Google Search
Google does not provide a control to disable AI mode from the Admin Console, however you can use a simple URL block to prevent access to this page:
- Where to find it: Devices > Chrome > Settings > Users & browsers > Content > URL blocking
- Add this URL to the blocklist: google.com/search?udm=50
This policy will bring up an “access denied” message when a student clicks on AI mode from the Google home page.
Related Post: Manage Google’s AI features from the Admin Console
2. Block access to Google AI overviews
You may have noticed that Google search results now feature “AI Overviews” at the very top of the page, pushing organic search results down.
There is a URL parameter (udm=14) that forces Google to display the “Web” tab by default, stripping out the AI overview. You can force this behavior on student devices by changing the default search provider.
Where to find it: Devices > Chrome > Settings > Users & browsers > Omnibox search provider Enter the following values:
- Configuration: Lock the Ominibox to the values below
- Provider Name: Google
- Provider keyword: Google
- Provider search URL: https://www.google.com/search?q={searchTerms}&udm=14
- Search suggest URL: https://www.google.com/complete/search?output=chrome&q={searchTerms}
- Icon URL: https://www.google.com/favicon.ico
- Provider encodings: UTF-8
Note: This solution works when students begin their search from the omnibox. AI snippets will still appear if they navigate directly to google.com and then search, or access Google search from another source.
3. Blocks access to Google Lens (Visual AI)
Google Lens is pretty cool, but in a classroom setting, it can be used to snap a picture of a math worksheet or a history question and get an instant AI-generated answer.
I have not found a way to completely remove the lens button from the Google Search bar, but we can prevent it from being used.
Disable lens access in Google Search:
- Where to find it: Devices > Chrome > Settings > Users & browsers > Content > URL blocking
- Add this URL to the block list: lens.google.com
Google lens is also integrated into several places in the Chrome browser and ChromeOS. To restrict access to these features, search for “lens” while viewing the Chrome user and browser page. There are five different policies you can adjust.
- Where to find it: Devices > Chrome > Settings > Users & browsers
- The Setting: While on the user & browser settings page, search for “lens.” There are multiple (5) policies related to Lens in various contexts. Disable all policies.
Continue developing your district’s AI policies
I recognize that districts are having different conversations about AI in the classroom. Some districts want to block Gemini AI in Google Search, others don’t. These three changes won’t solve every AI challenge, but they will remove the most immediate distractions and give your teachers some breathing room and allow you to have continued conversations about AI in the classroom.
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