Many users are frustrated with Google’s AI Overviews feature, which integrates generative AI responses directly into search results. This feature, also known as the Search Generative Experience (SGE), cannot be turned off directly in some regions, but there are several methods to work around it.
Disabling AI Overviews in Google Search
- Using Chrome Settings on Desktop:
- Open Chrome and navigate to
chrome://settings/searchEngines. - Click “Add” next to “Site search” and fill in the following details:
- Name: Google (Web)
- Shortcut: google.com
- URL:
{google:baseURL}/search?udm=14&q=%s
- Click “Add” and then set this new entry as the default by selecting “Make default” from the three-dot menu next to it [] [].
- Using Firefox on Mobile Devices:
- Install Firefox on your Android or iOS device.
- Navigate to Settings > Search > Default Search Engine > Add search engine.
- Enter the following details:
- Name: Google (Web)
- Search string URL:
google.com/search?udm=14&q=%s
- Save and select this as your default search engine [].
- Using Browser Extensions:
- For Chrome, you can install an extension like “Hide Google AI Overviews” from the Chrome Web Store, which blocks the AI Overview from appearing in your search results [].
- Google Labs (where available):
- Visit the Google Labs section and locate the toggle for AI Overviews under the AI experiments. Turn off the AI Overview toggle to disable the feature [] [].
Why Turn Off AI Overviews?
Users have expressed concerns about the accuracy and reliability of AI-generated responses. These overviews can sometimes provide incorrect or misleading information, which can be particularly problematic for nuanced or complex queries. Additionally, some users prefer traditional search results for their familiarity and reliability [].
If these methods don’t work or are too cumbersome, another approach is to switch to alternative search engines like Bing or DuckDuckGo, which do not integrate AI Overviews in the same way Google does [].
By following these steps, you can minimize or eliminate the presence of AI Overviews in your search results, returning to a more traditional and reliable search experience.