Privacy-focused search engine DuckDuckGo is pitching its services to U.S. schools after Google changed how educational customers manage AI features. Google says school administrators can control tools such as Gemini, Gemini Notebook and Search, but the integration of AI into Google Search has raised a question: can schools reject generative AI while keeping the search experience students already use? DuckDuckGo argues that schools should have clearer choices and is showing educators how to make its search engine the default.
Google puts school AI tools off by default
On Nov. 3, Google announced changes to its education services, saying K-12 administrators could choose whether to enable Gemini, Gemini Notebook and Search. The tools are off by default, according to the company, which said the changes respond to schools seeking more control over technology used by students. The complication is that Google Search itself now includes AI Overviews and AI Mode. Schools are trying to understand how to retain familiar search functions while limiting AI-generated answers.
DuckDuckGo offers an alternative
DuckDuckGo CEO Gabriel Weinberg said on social media that schools can set DuckDuckGo as their default search engine and invited education institutions to contact the company for help. The service emphasizes limited data collection and offers settings that turn off AI-assisted answers, AI-generated images and feature suggestions. DuckDuckGo is not opposed to AI in every context; it says users should be able to decide whether to use those features. The company has said its app installs increased about 30% this year, although that is a company-reported figure rather than an independent measure of market share.
Schools face competing demands
Schools want students to understand AI tools, but educators are also concerned about independent thinking, academic integrity and children’s privacy. Google says its Guided Learning feature is designed to walk students through problem-solving rather than simply provide answers. Some educators, however, want the option to remove generative AI from the learning process altogether. Several U.S. school systems have adopted restrictions or guidance on student AI use, reflecting an ongoing debate over how technology should fit into classrooms.
A possible opening in the search market
Google has a substantial presence in school devices and classroom software. TechCrunch cited figures previously published by Google showing about 50 million Chromebooks in use in schools and more than 150 million Google Classroom users worldwide. DuckDuckGo faces a difficult challenge in replacing Google’s established ecosystem, but concerns about privacy, default AI settings and administrative control may create an opening. Schools are likely to weigh search quality, filtering tools, data protection, administrative costs and classroom compatibility before making a change.