By Alistair Barr
Publication Date: 2026-11-06 10:00:00
Be careful what you ask for. You just might get it.
Google sparked a fierce debate this week by announcing that schools rejecting AI would lose access to its ubiquitous search engine.
The internet giant plans to turn off its AI services for students by default next year, in response to pressure from some schools that want more control over the technology.
But there’s a catch: Google Search is an AI product, through and through. Schools don’t want AI, so they won’t get Search.
The news sparked immediate criticism of Google, and a lively debate among Business Insider journalists, including me.
The episode raises a much bigger question, especially in the wake of midterm elections that revealed the scale of the AI backlash: When people say they don’t want AI, what exactly do they mean?
It’s an important distinction because AI is woven into so many things we use and love every day.
Take Instagram. The feed that keeps you scrolling is powered by AI that…
