DuckDuckGo Courts Schools Over Google AI Policy

DuckDuckGo is pitching its search engine to schools after Google said on Tuesday that schools could turn off Gemini but would also lose access to Google Search if they disabled Google’s other AI features. DuckDuckGo, which limits data collection as part of its privacy focus, shared online instructions for making its service the default search engine and invited schools to contact the company for help. CEO Gabriel Weinberg pointed to the instructions on X, while chief public affairs officer Kamyl Bazbaz criticized Google for “forcing AI on school children.”

The dispute matters in a school market where Google has a large presence: figures the company published in previous years put the number of school Chromebooks at around 50 million, and Google Classroom at over 150 million users globally. DuckDuckGo told TechCrunch that Google could turn off Search’s AI features for schools if it chose to. Google defended its decision after the backlash, saying its education announcements gave schools more choice. It said Gemini, Gemini Notebook, and Search would be off by default, with schools able to enable each individually.

Google Search includes AI Overviews and a conversational AI Mode that answers queries. DuckDuckGo also offers AI features, including the Duck.ai chat interface and an AI search assistant, but says users can disable them in its search and browser settings. Its noai.duckduckgo.com site turns off AI-assisted answers, AI-generated images, and AI feature suggestions. Earlier this year, DuckDuckGo reported that app installs had risen 30% as users rejected what it described as Google’s forced AI Search. The article also notes that educators have asked for tools to remove AI from learning, despite Google’s Guided Learning feature, designed to guide children through problem-solving instead of simply giving answers.

DuckDuckGo is pitching its search engine to schools after Google said on Tuesday that schools could turn off Gemini but would also lose access to Google Search if they disabled Google’s other AI features. DuckDuckGo, which limits data collection as part of its privacy focus, shared online instructions for making its service the default search engine and invited schools to contact the company for help. CEO Gabriel Weinberg pointed to the instructions on X, while chief public affairs officer Kamyl Bazbaz criticized Google for “forcing AI on school children.”

The dispute matters in a school market where Google has a large presence: figures the company published in previous years put the number of school Chromebooks at around 50 million, and Google Classroom at over 150 million users globally. DuckDuckGo told TechCrunch that Google could turn off Search’s AI features for schools if it chose to. Google defended its decision after the backlash, saying its education announcements gave schools more choice. It said Gemini, Gemini Notebook, and Search would be off by default, with schools able to enable each individually.

Google Search includes AI Overviews and a conversational AI Mode that answers queries. DuckDuckGo also offers AI features, including the Duck.ai chat interface and an AI search assistant, but says users can disable them in its search and browser settings. Its noai.duckduckgo.com site turns off AI-assisted answers, AI-generated images, and AI feature suggestions. Earlier this year, DuckDuckGo reported that app installs had risen 30% as users rejected what it described as Google’s forced AI Search. The article also notes that educators have asked for tools to remove AI from learning, despite Google’s Guided Learning feature, designed to guide children through problem-solving instead of simply giving answers.