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Farewell, AI: How to Disable Google's Annoying AI Overviews and Only Get Search Results

Create an image depicting a person using a computer, looking frustrated at an overly complex AI interface on the screen. In the background, a giant AI robot is hovering menacingly over the person's sh

Martin Kouyoumdjian |

Google's search engine, powered by Artificial Intelligence (AI), has revolutionized the way we access information. However, not everyone appreciates the AI-generated overviews and summaries that pop up at the top of search results. If you find these AI overviews more distracting than helpful, you might be wondering if there's a way to disable them and go back to traditional search results. This article will guide you through the process of disabling Google's AI overviews so you can get straight to the information you need.

Why Disable Google's AI Overviews?

Before diving into how to disable these AI overviews, it’s worth understanding why some users want to make the change. AI overviews can sometimes:

  • Provide unnecessary or oversimplified information
  • Spoil the browsing experience by interrupting the flow of research
  • Display inaccurate or irrelevant data
  • Take up valuable screen space, especially on mobile devices

Steps to Disabling Google's AI Overviews

Currently, Google does not offer a direct option to disable AI overviews. However, there are some alternative methods and tweaks you can use to minimize or remove them from your search experience.

1. Use a Different Search Engine

If AI overviews are a major nuisance, consider switching to a search engine that does not use these features. DuckDuckGo, Bing, and Yahoo are some popular alternatives that offer a different user experience.

2. Customize Google Search Settings

While you can't completely disable the AI overviews, you can tailor your Google search settings to reduce their impact:

  1. Open Google and go to Settings in the bottom right corner of the homepage.
  2. Select Search Settings.
  3. Scroll down to the Autocompletions and Predictions section and disable Autocomplete with trending searches.
  4. Scroll to the Region Settings section and change your region. This may reduce the prominence of AI-generated overviews.

3. Use Browser Extensions

There are browser extensions like uBlock Origin or AdBlock that you can configure to hide the AI-generated overviews:

  1. Install the desired extension from your browser's store.
  2. Go to its settings and set up custom filters.
  3. Add a filter to block specific elements by using the element picker mode to hide the AI overviews.

4. Advanced Techniques for Tech-Savvy Users

If you're comfortable with more advanced digital skills, you can use custom scripts to block AI overviews. Browser extensions like Tampermonkey support custom JavaScript for this:

  1. Install Tampermonkey from your browser's store.
  2. Click on the Tampermonkey icon and select Create a new script.
  3. Use a script that targets the div or class elements responsible for AI overviews and hides them.
  4. Save and enable the script.

Conclusion

Google's AI overviews are designed to make the search process more efficient, but they’re not for everyone. By following the steps outlined in this article, you can minimize the AI distractions and enjoy a more traditional search experience. Whether through settings adjustments, browser extensions, or switching search engines, you have various options to take control of your search results.

Happy searching!
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