Google told schools on Tuesday that they can disable Gemini, but shutting off its other AI features would also remove Google Search from their devices.
DuckDuckGo is using this gap to target the education sector, a market where Google holds a dominant position. Historical figures show roughly 50 million Chromebooks in schools and Google Classroom serving over 150 million users worldwide.
Gabriel Weinberg, the company’s founder and CEO, posted on X to direct institutions to its documentation. He explained how schools can switch their default search engine to DuckDuckGo and added: “get in touch for help.”
Kamyl Bazbaz, chief public affairs officer, issued a sharper response. She wrote: “Forcing AI on school children: how a monopolist behaves when they think people are powerless. Prove Google wrong.”
In an email to TechCrunch, DuckDuckGo argued that Google could easily turn off Search’s AI features for schools if it chose to.
Public sentiment in the US is currently weighing how much AI they want in their lives. Recent elections showed voters do not want AI data centers in their towns. Yet, using AI at work and school has become common, requiring a more nuanced discussion.
Google developed “Guided Learning” to help children by walking them through problem-solving steps rather than just providing answers. Educators, however, still want the option to remove AI from the learning process entirely.
After the backlash on Tuesday, Google defended its decision. It stated the move was a response to school feedback. Google said Gemini, Gemini Notebook, and Search would be off by default, allowing schools to enable them individually.
The issue is that Google Search now relies heavily on AI through AI Overviews and a conversational AI Mode that answers queries.
DuckDuckGo is not anti-AI. It offers its own features, including a chat interface called Duck.ai and an AI search assistant.
Unlike Google, the company provides options to disable these features in search and browser settings. It also runs a dedicated website, noai.duckduckgo.com, where AI-assisted answers, AI-generated images, and feature suggestions are all turned off.
This flexibility may be driving demand. Earlier this year, the company reported a 30% rise in app installs as users rejected being force-fed Google’s AI Search.
What it means
Schools now have a practical alternative if they wish to strip AI from their core search tools. DuckDuckGo offers a specific environment for that choice, whereas Google ties its AI features to its main search product.
