Google has recently introduced a new AI feature called AI Overviews. You might have come across a few search results with an AI box that appears at the top of the results for specific queries. While the AI overview is a useful tool for quick summaries and key information related to the search, some of us may find the new overview overwhelming or unnecessary and would rather prefer to view the blue-links search results. In this read, you will learn how to disable AI Overview in your Google search results.
Steps to Disable AI Overview in Google Search Permanently
On May 14, 2024, Google launched the AI Overview feature as part of its Search Generative Experience (SGE) in the United States, followed by a global release soon after. However, Google has yet to add a toggle option to disable the AI Overview feature, making it a distracting, unnecessary search experience for some. Here’s how you can permanently disable the AI Overview for your personalised Google Search experience.
Method 1 – Using Web Filter Feature
The Web filter feature lets you skip all AI responses, video links, and image suggestions and puts the bluelinks right onto your search results. Here are four ways you can enable the Web filter feature on Chrome on your desktop or smartphone and the native Google Search app on your Android and iOS devices.
Method 2 – Setting Web Filter as Default Google Search
1. Launch Chrome on your Desktop and locate the three-dot button on the top right corner of the browser.
2. Click the three-dot button to open a dropdown menu and click on “Settings.”
3. Navigate down to “Search Engine” on the left menu and tap on “Manage search engines and site search.”
4. Next, proceed to scroll down to locate “Site search” on the screen.
5. Click “Add” to enter the following details.
- Name: Web Filter (or any name you like)
- Shortcut: ‘http://google.com‘
- URL with %s in place of query: ‘ {google:baseURL}search?udm=14&q=%s ‘
Once done, click on “Save.”
6. Locate the Web Filter option you just added to the Search engines menu, and next to the three dots, select “Make default.”
You can now use Google Search with Web Filter turned on by default.
Method 3 – Using Extension to Hide Google AI Overview
There’s another method using which you can get rid of Google AI-Overview in your search results. Here is how you can do it.
1. Go to the Chrome Web Store and search for the “Hide Google AI Overviews” extension or click this link.
2. Add the extension to Chrome.
Once done, you can enjoy AI-cluttered free Google Search experience on your browser.
Method 4 – Disabling Google Lab Section
1. Open Chrome and go to Google Labs section.
2. Navigate to AI experiments. Under it, open the “AI Overviews & more section.”
3. Use the toggle button visible to turn off the AI Overview, saying, “Turn this experiment on or off. Turning this off does not disable AI Overviews in Search outside of Labs. You will now see AI-free search results on Google. ”
4. Once disabled two feedback forms will appear from Google, seeking your experience on the AI Overview, why you would want to disable and how easy or difficult it was to use.
This step is optional and can be avoided. You can directly proceed to use your Google search without AI Overview prompts.
Note: For a few Google Accounts, this method is not accessible, as the Google Labs page shows an error. To use other workaround for AI Overview, check the above-mentioned methods in this guide.
FAQs
Q. I Want to Use AI Overview at Times. What Do I Do?
You can proceed to use the Web filter feature whenever you require an AI-free search experience. For more details, check the steps in the guide above.
Q. How Do I Turn off AI Overview on My Android Phone?
To turn off this feature, you must enable the Web filter on your device using the steps mentioned above in Method 1.
Q. Do I Need AI Overview? Is It Helpful?
Google’s AI Overview is a new feature that uses generative AI technology to provide you with a summary box and key information related to the search query at the top of the search results page. It is only helpful to get a gist of the search topic and you may want to read in detail using the webpage blue-links.
Q. Is There Any Direct Button to Disable Google AI-Overview?
No. As of now, Google has not added any direct way or toggle button to switch off this feature. However, you can use the above discussed methods to turn off this feature on your Google Search results.
Wrapping Up
With the above methods, you can choose to skip all AI-generated responses whenever searching on Google. For more such guides stay tuned to GadgetsToUse and check out the following reads below.
- This New Feature Simplifies Google Search for You
- 2 Ways to Google Search From Telegram or WhatsApp Without Leaving App
- 4 Methods to Save Google Search Results Links on PC or Phone
- What Are Notes on Google Search? How to Enable and Use Them?
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