I am an admin for a school that uses Google Workspace for Education for child student and adult user accounts. I was requested by the school to restrict access to the new AI Mode now built in to Google Search. I had a long chat with Google Workspace support, and they confirmed there is no way to restrict access to Search Labs features such as “AI Mode” in the currently existing controls in Google Admin for managed accounts. Controls exist to prevent users from accessing the Gemini app, and I’ve already configured those, but I can’t restrict access for users to the same chatbots via the even more prominent AI Mode button now on every Google Search page. We need controls as admins for all Search Labs features, especially AI Mode for Google Search.
Hey,
Hope you’re keeping well.
Currently, Search Labs features like AI Mode in Google Search are consumer-facing and not governed by Google Workspace Admin Console settings, which is why you’re not seeing any policy controls similar to those available for Gemini or other Workspace services. For managed accounts, the only enforceable controls today are for Workspace apps and services listed under Apps > Additional Google services in Admin Console, and Search Labs is not yet included there.
The best path forward is to file this as a formal feature request through your Admin Console by clicking ? > Send Feedback while in the relevant settings view, and also via your Google Workspace support contact so it’s logged with product management. If you need to mitigate access in the meantime, your only option would be network-level or browser policy restrictions to block Search Labs endpoints, though this is not granular and may impact regular search functionality.
Thanks and regards,
Taz