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. If you want to disable AI mode for search for student accounts without cutting off their web access completely, you have to get creative. Let’s take a closer look at what’s going on and what you should do about it. 

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. AI snippets, Google Lens, and AI mode for search provide easy shortcuts for students to complete work without thinking and do not have appropriate safeguards for sensitive and potentially harmful conversation topics. 

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

How to Disable AI Mode for Search (Admin 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! I published this video last February with specific steps you can take to disable AI Mode, Google Lens, and the AI snippets. 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.

You can also read this blog post on blocking AI mode for Google search which contains the specific URLs you need to enter into the admin console to configure the search experience.

Master the console and take charge!

Google has it’s own motives and reasons for the things that it does. Most of the time I agree, sometimes I disagree. Ultimately, it’s up to each school district and IT director to make decisions that are right for the teachers and students we serve.

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. I recognize that this is tough for IT admins who have dozens of responsibilities. My goal is to find and share solutions to complex problems. More than 4,000 IT admins received my weekly admin newsletter where I share these tips and suggestions. Join us and we’ll figure things out together!