How to Turn Off AI-Generated Results (AI Overview) in Google Search: A Comprehensive Guide

In recent years, Google has made significant advancements in integrating artificial intelligence (AI) into its search engine, aiming to provide more relevant and contextual results. One such feature is the AI-generated results that seem to be appearing in the results more frequently, often referred to as “AI Overview.” While this innovation can be incredibly useful for many, some users may find it unnecessary, intrusive, or simply prefer the traditional search results without AI enhancement.

If you’re someone who wants to regain control over your search experience by turning off AI-generated results in Google, this guide is for you. Below, we’ll cover the reasons why you might want to disable AI Overview and provide step-by-step instructions on how to do it.

Why Disable AI-Generated Results?

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Before diving into the how, it’s essential to understand the why. Here are some reasons you might prefer to turn off AI-generated results in your Google search:

1. Desire for Unfiltered Information:
   • AI-generated results often synthesise information from multiple sources to provide a concise summary. While this can save time, it might also mean that you miss out on the nuances of individual perspectives on different sites.
2. Privacy Concerns:
   • AI Overview works by analysing your search behaviour to tailor results. This level of personalisation can raise privacy concerns, particularly if you prefer to keep your online activities more private.
3. Preference for Traditional Results:
   • Some users simply prefer the traditional list of blue links that Google has provided for years. They may find the AI-generated summaries redundant or distracting.
4. Avoiding Bias:
   • AI systems can inadvertently introduce bias into the information presented. By relying solely on AI-generated summaries, you might be exposed to a skewed interpretation of the facts or just plainly wrong information.
5. Faster Access to Original Sources:
   • AI Overview might delay your access to the original sources of information, as it presents a summarised view that requires additional clicks to reach the full content.

How to Turn Off AI-Generated Results on Google

Currently, there isn’t a straightforward toggle switch within Google’s settings to disable AI-generated results entirely. However, there are a few methods and workarounds that can help you reduce or eliminate the influence of AI Overview in your search results.

1. Use Incognito Mode or Log Out

One of the simplest ways to avoid AI-generated results is to use Google in Incognito Mode or while logged out of your Google account. Google’s AI Overview is often tied to your search history and personalised data. By searching in Incognito Mode, you prevent Google from using your previous searches to generate AI-enhanced results.

• How to use Incognito Mode:
  • On your desktop, open Chrome and click on the three dots in the top-right corner.
  • Select “New Incognito Window.”
  • Perform your searches in this window to see results without personalisation.
• How to log out:
  • Simply click on your profile picture in the top-right corner of Google’s homepage.
  • Click “Sign out” and continue your search while logged out.

2. Use Alternative Search Engines

If Google’s AI Overview continues to interfere with your search experience, consider using an alternative search engine that doesn’t rely as heavily on AI to present results. Here are a few popular alternatives:

• DuckDuckGo: Known for its privacy-focused approach, DuckDuckGo doesn’t track your search history or use AI to customise results although from experience it’s results are often  not as good as Google’s.
• Bing: Microsoft’s search engine offers a more traditional search experience (often not as usefult as Google’s though), with fewer AI-enhanced features.
• Startpage: This search engine uses Google’s results but strips away all the tracking and personalisation, giving you a cleaner, more traditional experience.

3. Customise Search Settings

Google offers various settings that you can tweak to minimise the impact of AI Overview on your search results. Here’s how:

• Step 1: Go to Google Search Settings
  • Visit Google Search Settings.
• Step 2: Adjust Search History
  • Under “Search history,” turn off “Web & App Activity.” This prevents Google from using your search history to personalise results, which can reduce the appearance of AI-generated content.
• Step 3: Disable Personalised Search Results
  • Scroll down to “Private results” and select “Do not use private results.” This stops Google from tailoring search results based on your past behaviour.
• Step 4: Turn Off Auto-Complete
  • Scroll down further to “Autocomplete with trending searches” and select “Do not show popular searches.” This ensures that your search queries aren’t influenced by what others are searching, which can sometimes be driven by AI.

4. Use Google’s Feedback Feature

If AI-generated results are particularly intrusive or irrelevant, consider providing feedback to Google. While this doesn’t immediately turn off the feature, user feedback is crucial in helping Google refine its AI systems.

• How to give feedback:
  • Scroll to the bottom of the AI Overview box and click on “Send feedback.”
  • Provide detailed feedback explaining why you find the AI Overview unhelpful or why you prefer not to see it.

5. Browser Extensions

There are browser extensions that can help manage and even block specific content on web pages, including AI-generated results. While these aren’t official Google tools, they can offer a temporary solution.

• uBlock Origin: This popular ad blocker can be customised to block elements on web pages, including AI Overview boxes.
• Stylus: This extension allows you to apply custom styles to websites, which can be used to hide AI-generated results.
• Hide Google AI Overviews:  this extension can be used on Chrome and Edge to remove AI-generated summaries from search results.

Final Thoughts

As AI continues to evolve and integrate into everyday tools like Google Search, it’s crucial for users to have control over how these technologies influence their experience. While Google doesn’t yet offer a simple switch to turn off AI-generated results, the methods outlined above can help you regain some control.

Whether you’re concerned about privacy, prefer traditional search results, or simply find AI Overview distracting, these steps can help you tailor your Google Search experience to better meet your needs. Remember that technology should serve you, not the other way around, and taking a few minutes to adjust your settings can make a significant difference in how you interact with the digital world.

By staying informed and proactive, you can continue to enjoy the benefits of Google Search without the unwanted influence of AI-generated content.