Can I Stop Google from Giving Me AI Answers?

Desktop Solutions

Yes, while there isn't a direct "off" switch for Google AI Overviews, there are several workarounds to prevent them from appearing in your search results on both desktop and mobile devices. These methods range from adjusting browser settings to using proxy sites or browser extensions.[1] [2]

1. Using Browser Settings (Chrome): The most straightforward method involves modifying your browser's search engine settings.
   • Open Chrome and go to chrome://settings/searchEngines.
   • In the "Site Search" section, click "Add".
   • Fill in the following details:
     • Name: AI Free Web
     • Shortcut: @web
     • {google:baseURL}search?q=%s&udm=14
   • Make "AI Free Web" your default search engine. This will bypass the AI Overviews and show traditional web results.[1] [5]

2. Using the "Web" Filter: After performing a Google search, click the "Web" tab located beneath the search bar. This will filter the results to display only web links, effectively removing the AI Overview panel.[2] [5]

1. Using the "Web" Filter: Similar to the desktop, you can tap the "Web" tab after searching on Google to filter out AI Overviews.[2] [5]

Mobile Solutions

3. Browser Extensions: Several browser extensions are available that can remove AI Overviews from your search results. Examples include "Bye, Bye Google AI" and "Hide Google AI Overview." These extensions work by altering the HTML of the search results page.[5]

2. Using a Proxy Site: The website tenbluelinks.org provides a workaround for mobile devices.
   • Visit tenbluelinks.org on your mobile browser.
   • Open a new tab and search on Google.
   • Go to your browser's search engine settings (Settings > Search Engine in Chrome).
   • Select "Google Web" from the "Recently Visited" list. This should be linked to the tenbluelinks.org webpage.
   • This will allow you to search on Google without AI Overviews.[1] [5]

Additional Considerations

3. Firefox Mobile Browser: If you use Firefox on your mobile device, you can manually change the search functionality within the settings.
   • Open Firefox and go to Settings > Search.
   • Tap "Default Search Engine" and then "Add Search Engine".
   • Enter "AI-Free Web" as the name and google.com/search?udm=14&q=%s as the search string.
   • Save the settings.[1] [5]

• Using the -AI Operator: You can add -AI to the end of your search query to try and remove the AI Overview. This works by modifying the search to exclude certain parameters, effectively breaking Google's algorithm to surface the AI overlay.[2]
• Proxy Sites: Using a proxy site like udm14.com can also strip out AI Overviews. However, be aware that these sites may potentially read your search queries.[2]
• Google Labs: While the "AI Overviews and more" experiment can be toggled on or off in Search Labs, turning it off does not disable all AI Overviews in Search.[3]
• Limitations: It's important to note that these methods are workarounds and may not be foolproof. Google can change its search algorithms, which could potentially break these methods in the future.[1] [5]

Therefore, the most reliable way to stop Google from giving you AI answers is to use the "Web" filter, adjust your browser settings, or use a proxy site or browser extension, depending on your device.

Answer Provided by iAsk.ai – Ask AI.