No, You Can't Disable Google AI Overviews. But There Are Tricks to ...
Google search's AI Overviews are now a permanent feature that you will encounter when using Google search. These AI-organized summaries are designed to provide quick information at the top of your search results. Initially available only to those who had signed up for Search Labs, the AI-generated summaries have now been rolled out to all users in the US.
While some users appreciate the convenience of having AI-generated summaries, others may prefer not to see them as the first thing in their search results. Powered by Google's Gemini generative AI model, these summaries are not always accurate and have even provided bizarre answers in the past.
Understanding AI Overviews
AI Overviews are AI-generated responses to the questions you input into Google search. Google introduced them in 2023 to a small group of Search Labs users and later announced their expansion to millions of users in the US at the Google I/O conference. The goal is to eventually make AI Overviews available to over a billion people worldwide by the end of the year.
When you enter a query on Google, AI Overviews may present a concise summary of the information you are seeking, along with links to the sources used. This feature is intended to offer quick and useful insights to users, especially for straightforward questions.
Can You Disable AI Overviews?
Unfortunately, Google does not provide a direct option to disable AI Overviews in your search results. Even if you attempt to do so through your Google or Chrome settings, the feature cannot be turned off entirely. Users who have experimented with disabling AI Overviews in Search Labs have found that the setting does not affect the feature outside of that environment.
However, there are some workarounds that users can implement to minimize their exposure to AI Overviews. One option is to utilize the "Web" tab that appears in Google search results, allowing you to switch to a more traditional search view with only links displayed. Additionally, Google Chrome users can install the "Hide Google AI Overviews" extension to remove all AI-generated summaries from their search results.
While the AI Overviews feature may not be easily disabled, these tricks can help users tailor their search experience according to their preferences.
For more information on this topic, you can check out the CNET article.
