DuckDuckGo pitches itself to schools amid backlash over Google’s AI policy

DuckDuckGo is pitching itself to schools after Google created an opening for the alternative search engine. Google told schools on Tuesday they could turn off Gemini, but disabling its other AI features would cost them Google Search as well. DuckDuckGo, a company that focuses on user privacy by limiting data collection, clearly sees the moment as a chance to make inroads in education, where Google has historically dominated.

Google's published figures from previous years put roughly 50 million Chromebooks in schools, used by students and educators, while its Google Classroom platform serves over 150 million users globally. That scale explains why even a modest shift in default search settings could matter. Gabriel Weinberg, DuckDuckGo's founder and CEO, pointed on X to the company's online documentation explaining how schools can switch their default search engine to DuckDuckGo's service, adding "get in touch for help." Chief public affairs officer Kamyl Bazbaz struck a sharper tone, writing: "forcing AI on school children: how a monopolist behaves when they think people are powerless. Prove Google wrong."

In an email to TechCrunch, DuckDuckGo chastised Google for its decision and argued that Google could easily turn off Search's AI features for schools if it wanted to. The company's comments arrive as the American public weighs how much AI to allow into daily life. Tuesday night's elections indicate that voters don't want AI data centers built in their towns, while using AI at work and in school has become common practice — a distinction that demands a more nuanced discussion than a simple pro-or-anti stance.

Educators have struggled with AI in the classroom, which is why Google developed "Guided Learning," technology meant to help kids learn by walking through problem-solving steps rather than just handing them an answer. Despite that, educators are still asking for tools that remove AI from the learning process altogether. After Tuesday's backlash, Google defended its decision, saying it was responding to schools' feedback. The company clarified that Gemini, Gemini Notebook, and Search will be off by default, with schools choosing individually whether to enable them, calling the announcements an increase in choice rather than a restriction.

What remains unresolved is how many schools will actually act on DuckDuckGo's invitation, and whether Google's default-off posture satisfies educators who want AI fully absent rather than merely opt-in. Google's clarification suggests it will keep listening to K-12 feedback, leaving open the question of whether Search itself — not just Gemini — could eventually be disabled for schools without losing access. Watch for adoption numbers on DuckDuckGo's documentation page and whether other privacy-focused search engines follow with their own education pitches.