How to avoid Google AI Overviews
Google is going all in on artificial intelligence for its products and services. The most notable one is AI Overviews for online search.
Most people worldwide use Google programs, meaning AI will become part of everyone’s lives. Still, some prefer the old format that shows a list of links immediately.
READ: Google AI features now available in US
Others are still skeptical of the technology so they prefer an AI-free search experience. You can’t remove AI Overviews, but you may get a results page with only a list of websites.
How to avoid Google AI overviews on PC
Nobody can remove AI overviews for Google Search results pages because they are now a built-in feature. However, a section of the website lets you use the conventional format that has a website list.
Wired recommends accessing the Web filter by clicking on the More tab. It is next to the other filter options like Images and Videos.
Click Web to see a results page showing only website links. On the other hand, you may turn off AI Overviews with these instructions from Mashable:
- Navigate to your search engine settings. Type “chrome://settings/searchEngines” into your URL bar and press Enter.
- Then, click the Add button to the right of Site Search.
- Enter “{google:baseURL}/search?udm=14&q=%s” under “URL with %s in place of query.“
- Afterward, click the three-dot button and click the Make default option.
These steps will let you use Google Search without AI upgrades. However, Mashable reminds users that Google may remove this option as it improves online search further.
How to avoid Google AI overviews on Android and iOS
Tom’s Hardware says you may block Google AI overviews on Android and iOS. Install the Firefox browser app and then follow these instructions:
- Head to Settings.
- Next, tap Search.
- Tap Default Search Engine.
- Then, select Add search engine.
- Fill out the Name field with “Google (Web).”
- Enter “google.com/search?udm=14&q&%s” under the Search string URL.
- Select Google (Web) from the menu.
These steps will let you use the Google web tab in Firefox’s address bar. However, this method may not work as Google updates its search engine.
Google released AI Overviews in the United States, but it will launch the feature in other countries. Soon, people outside the US will be able to use these tips.
