On November 9, 2026, Sen. Ed Markey asked Google to let schools keep Search while turning off its built-in AI features. He also asked whether Google could provide that option and requested studies on AI’s effects on students’ academic development, mental health and safety. The letter was addressed to Alphabet CEO Sundar Pichai.
Markey’s request concerns AI inside Search
The controls described in reports distinguish Google Search from separate products such as Gemini and Gemini Notebook. School administrators can enable Search separately from those products. But Google’s reported position is that AI Overviews, which generate summaries in Search, and AI Mode, its chatbot-like Search feature, cannot be switched off separately while keeping Search enabled.
For school administrators, the central control question is whether Search’s built-in AI can be switched off independently of Search itself.
That is the change Markey asked Google to consider. NeoTeo’s earlier coverage of school Search and Gemini controls provides background on the separate product settings.
The school-AI announcement came first
Google’s page for “Designing responsible AI for learning” is dated November 3, 2026. Its description says Guided Learning was coming to Search and Classroom and refers to evolving school controls. Markey’s request followed on November 9.
