- There are projects like Just the Browser and internal settings that allow you to remove or disable much of the integrated AI and telemetry in browsers like Chrome, Edge, or Firefox.
- Through extensions and flags, assistants such as Gemini, Copilot, Leo, or Aria can be hidden, and the weight of AI functions in search engines like Google can be reduced.
- Solutions like Slop Evader and standards like C2PA seek to limit the impact of AI-generated junk and certify authentic content on the web.
Every time we open our browser, it feels like more artificial intelligence features are popping up everywhere : in the address bar, on the homepage, in the side menus… and often we haven't asked for them and don't intend to use them. For many people, this is no longer synonymous with modernity, but with noise, distractions , and extra resource consumption.
If you identify with this and want to keep your browser as free of AI features as possible without giving up using Chrome, Edge, Firefox, Brave, or Opera, there are several ways to do it: from scripts that modify advanced options to extensions and internal settings. There are also tricks to reduce the impact of AI on Google search results and more radical solutions that filter machine-generated content across the entire web.
Modern web browsers come loaded with features designed, in theory, to improve the browsing experience and increase usage time , but in practice many of these features end up being a nuisance. Artificial intelligence has become the latest "mandatory addition" that major tech companies are including in their products.
We spend a significant portion of our day using Chrome, Edge, or Firefox as our primary window to the digital world , whether for work, watching videos, reading news, or playing games. This massive usage time drives developers to seek every way to stand out from the competition, and the current trend is to flood the interface with assistants, AI summaries, smart comparison tools, and contextual panels.
The problem arises when these new features offer nothing to the average user or even hinder them: buttons we never use, panels that open unexpectedly, AI suggestions that obscure normal results, or background functions that consume RAM and bandwidth to download local models.
In many cases, these implementations also serve as a gateway to telemetry and data collection , justified under the mantra of "improving the product." For those who simply want a fast, lightweight browser that doesn't spy on them excessively, this entire AI package is essentially bloatware.
One of the most interesting proposals for bringing order to the system is called Just the Browser , an open-source project that aims, quite literally, to make the browser just that again: a browser. Its approach is rather aggressive, modifying Windows registry settings and internal policies to disable or block everything related to AI and certain extra services.
This project is distributed as free and open-source software hosted on GitHub , where you can review the file contents and see exactly what changes it makes. It's not just another extension, but a set of tweaks designed to prevent AI functions from being downloaded, executed, or even appearing in the user interface.
Among the actions that Just the Browser applies, several stand out that are very specific to Chrome and Chromium-based browsers, which also affect Edge and, to a lesser extent, Firefox, with the aim of leaving out anything that smells of generative AI or aggressive telemetry.
Which AI components does Just the Browser remove?
Once Just the Browser's configuration files are executed, the browser undergoes a complete stripping of added features. The idea is for the application to behave like a classic browser without AI layers or superimposed "experiments ." Among other things, this project is capable of:
• Disable Google AI Mode integrations in the address bar and search boxpreventing automatically generated suggestions or summaries from appearing when a query is typed.
• Remove the option to create themes and wallpapers using generative AIwhich in many cases involves downloading additional models and resources.
• Blocking deep integration with Gemini, Google's assistant and generative model, preventing it from connecting or interacting natively with the browser.
• Prevent the downloading of local artificial intelligence models that some browsers are starting to offer to run on your own computer without much warning.
In addition to focusing on AI, Just the Browser touches on related functions that also use intelligent processes and telemetry , such as:
• Turn off the "Help me type" feature in text fields, comment boxes, and forms.
• Get rid of smart search history, which uses advanced algorithms to suggest visits and patterns.
• Disable options such as “Smartly compare tabs” or similar tools that process content behind the scenes.
• Force Chrome to use the operating system's DNS client instead of integrated DNS, reducing a potential tracking layer.
• Disable debugging tools based on generative models within the DevTools for developers.
Taken together, these measures eliminate many elements touted as "useful" AI but which actually complicate the interface and add constant load to the system. The browser is now much closer to a clean and predictable experience.
How to install and uninstall Just the Browser on Windows
You don't need to be an expert to apply these changes, although you should proceed with caution because you're working directly with the Windows registry and system policies . The project creators simplify the entire process with two text files or scripts: one to install the changes and another to revert them.
The general procedure involves accessing the official Just the Browser page on GitHub , where the steps compatible with Google Chrome, Microsoft Edge, and Mozilla Firefox are explained. Within the repository you will find:
• A file for applying policies and modifications (facility).
• A file to undo those same policies (uninstallation) and leave the browser as it was.
Simply download those files and save them to your hard drive . Then, open them from File Explorer by right-clicking and choosing the appropriate option (for example, "Open with Registry Editor" if it's a .reg file) so that Windows can process the changes.
Once you've run the corresponding file, simply restart the affected browser for the AI cleanup to take effect immediately . If you're not satisfied with the results later, or if you find you're missing a feature, you can easily run the uninstallation file and revert to the original settings.
Risks and considerations when modifying the Windows registry
Modifying the registry is not a game: any incorrect changes can cause strange system behavior or break functions. Although Just the Browser is open source and many users have reviewed its scripts, it's always recommended to take precautions.
Before running these files, it's highly recommended to create a system restore point or, at the very least, export a backup of the registry keys that will be modified. This way, if something goes wrong, you can revert to the previous state relatively easily.
Another side effect is that, when applying group policies and company settings, browsers like Chrome, Edge, or Firefox may display the message "Your browser is managed by your organization ." This doesn't mean your computer is now controlled by a third party, but rather that the same tools used by companies to limit functions and block unwanted features are being used.
In reality, that tag is the most effective way to disable persistent telemetry, AI modules, and other added services that are enabled by default and can rarely be completely turned off from the normal settings menu alone.
For those who don't want assistants or smart suggestions, using tools like Just the Browser offers several clear advantages for daily use. The first is that removing layers of AI usually results in a faster and lighter browser , with fewer active background processes.
It also improves the feeling of control: buttons, side drawers and banners that push you to try "experimental" features disappear , and the address bar goes back to behaving as it always was: a place to write URLs or queries, without banners promoting an AI mode every other minute.
From a privacy perspective, blocking deep AI and telemetry integrations reduces the amount of browsing, usage, and content data leaving your device . It's not a magic bullet that makes you invisible, but it does significantly reduce the noise surrounding your daily web activity.
Finally, there is an almost philosophical component: for many users, being able to keep a browser focused on displaying web pages and not on selling you its latest AI is a form of resistance against the current model in which every service wants to become a content platform and omnipresent assistant.
If you'd rather not mess with the Windows Registry or Group Policy, there are other, gentler options for removing or hiding the AI built into most popular browsers . Most rely on extensions or internal settings that, while not as extensive as Just the Browser, are sufficient for most users.
In the case of Chrome, one of the most annoying aspects is the integration with Gemini and the AI responses in certain searches or panels . For this, there's a very practical extension called Bye Bye, Google AI, which allows you to filter and hide elements generated by Google's artificial intelligence.
Other browsers have added their own chatbots: Firefox with its AI button on the left, Edge with Copilot embedded in the sidebar, Brave with Leo AI, and Opera with Aria in the interface. In all these cases, these features can be partially disabled from the advanced settings or through internal configuration flags.
Thus, without resorting to system scripts, it is possible to significantly reduce the presence of AI assistants in daily browsing , maintaining the main browsers but with behavior much more similar to that before the trend of integrated chatbots.
How to disable Gemini and AI Mode in Google Chrome
Chrome is in the midst of a transition to a fully AI-driven browser model , where Gemini plays a central role in both search and content creation within the browser itself. If this seems excessive to you, you can significantly reduce its presence with the appropriate extension.
The most direct tool is Bye Bye, Google AI , an add-on that, once installed and configured, hides most of the elements related to Chrome's AI Mode. After installing the extension from the Chrome Web Store, simply open its settings and:
• Select the option “Hide AI General Descriptions” to prevent automatic summaries from appearing at the top of the results.
• Activate “Hide AI Mode Tab” so that Chrome stops showing that specific tab in the interface.
The extension offers additional settings, but these two alone are enough to make AI responses and Gemini's specific mode disappear from view in most common situations. Since it's Chromium-based, this solution also works in other compatible browsers like Brave and Microsoft Edge.
It's worth remembering that these types of extensions depend on constant changes to Google's interface . If Chrome redesigns its menus or introduces new ways of displaying AI, the extension may take some time to update or some features may temporarily fail.
Remove the built-in Firefox chatbot
Mozilla has joined the trend, and Firefox now includes an AI chatbot button on the left side of the interface , something many users find unnecessary or downright annoying. Unlike other browsers, here it can be disabled from advanced settings without needing to install anything.
The quick way is to go to Settings and access the section called Firefox Labs, which groups experimental features similar to the flags in other browsers. However, the most direct method is:
1. Type “about:config” in the address bar and press Enter to open the advanced panel (accepting the warning).
2. In the internal search engine, enter “browser.ml.chat.enabled” to locate the setting that controls the chatbot.
3. Double-click on the entry to change its value to “false”.
When you restart or close and reopen Firefox, the AI button disappears completely from the interface , leaving the browser as it was before the integration. This change does not prevent the use of external AI services from the web; it simply removes the embedded native chatbot.
How to remove the Copilot button in Microsoft Edge
Edge is one of the browsers where its manufacturer's commitment to AI is most evident, with Copilot integrated into the sidebar, menu, and search experience . While it can't be completely removed without fundamental policy changes, it is possible to hide much of its visual presence.
To clean up the interface, you can use Edge's internal settings by following these steps:
1. Type in the address bar “edge://settings/sidebar” and press Enter to go directly to the sidebar settings.
2. Within that section, locate the Copilot section and Uncheck the option “Show Copilot button in toolbar” so that it stops appearing alongside the other icons.
3. Return to the previous section of the sidebar and disable the “Show sidebar button” option, which completely erases from view that additional panel with which Copilot is launched.
With these changes, Copilot is no longer constantly visible , although the service remains available in the background for those who wish to use it by manually accessing it. For most users, this is enough to stop Edge from pushing its assistant every time a new tab is opened.
Disable Leo AI in Brave and Aria in Opera
Alternative browsers are also keeping pace, and many have introduced their own AI layers. Brave, for example, integrates Leo AI as an assistant in the interface , while Opera does the same with Aria in its sidebar. The good news is that both can be muted with a couple of settings.
In Brave, Leo AI is controlled through experimental flags. The process consists of:
• Write “brave://flags/#brave-ai-chat” in the address bar and press Enter.
• In the Brave AI Chat option, Change the value from Default (Enabled) to Disabled from the drop down menu.
• Restart your browser for the change to take effect.
Once this is done, Leo stops working and disappears from Brave's visible elements . The browser reverts to a more traditional behavior, without the chat panel popping up from the bar.
In Opera, the Aria assistant appears in both the sidebar and pop-up notifications when text is selected. To reduce its presence, simply:
• Press the settings icon located in the upper right corner from the Opera window.
• Scroll down to the AI Services section and Uncheck the AI notifications option in the text highlighting pop-up window so that it stops suggesting smart answers every time you select something.
• Go to the Sidebar Settings and Remove Aria's mark from the list of items in the left sidebar.
After these steps, Aria stops appearing constantly in the interface , although she could always be reactivated from the same menu if she is missed at any time.
Search engines and results: how to reduce AI in Google
Beyond the browser itself, one of the areas where the shift towards AI is most noticeable is in Google's search engine, which has introduced AI Overview (or IAO), an AI-generated answer block that appears above the traditional results.
AI Overview is a box that displays a summary of information based on various websites , created entirely by artificial intelligence models. It's not activated for all queries, but it is for many that Google considers suitable for a direct response. It saves clicks, but it has several drawbacks:
• The information is highly compressed and It may lose important nuances or context..
• Frequently mix facts with opinions or takes phrases from pages that are not necessarily the best sources.
• Google acknowledges in its notices that AI responses may contain errors, something that is not always clear at first glance.
Furthermore, in terms of user experience, many users feel that AI Overview obscures classic results and hinders direct access to the original pages, encouraging people to stay on Google's summary instead of visiting specialized websites.
Differences between AI Overview and Gemini
It's important to distinguish between two elements that are sometimes confused: AI Overview and Gemini . While related, they play different roles within the Google ecosystem, which is key to understanding what we're trying to disable or prevent when we talk about "removing AI."
On one hand, AI Overview is a feature added to Google Search . It only appears on the results page and only when the system deems it can generate a useful summary. It is presented as a block at the top of the SERP with generated text and some supporting links.
Gemini, on the other hand, is the family of generative models and the standalone AI assistant as a service . It has its own website, mobile app, and specific features for conversation, generating text, images, or code outside of the search engine. Often, Gemini is behind the summaries seen in AI Overview, but at the product level, they are separate entities.
In other words: AI Overview is the visible face of the search , while Gemini is both the technological engine that powers it and a standalone product that can be used without going through Google Search.
Practical ways to reduce or circumvent AI Overview on Google
Currently, there isn't a universal button in your Google account to turn off AI Overview for all searches at once . However, there are several ways to achieve a more traditional search results experience, minimizing the influence of generative AI.
The most direct option is to use the "Web" view at the top of the results page . Once you've performed your search, you can click on the Web tab (if it's visible) or find it in the "More" menu and select it there. With this view activated, Google only displays links to web pages without AI Overview blocks or other similar modules.
To avoid having to switch views every time, it's very useful to save a bookmark with the web search already applied . On a computer, you can pin it to the bookmarks bar for one-click access to the "simple" version of Google; on mobile, many browsers allow you to add this bookmark to the home screen.
Additional help is provided by some browser extensions, such as Hide Google AI Overview , which attempt to automatically hide AI blocks from the search results page. They work reasonably well, although they rely on third parties and are vulnerable to changes in Google's interface design.
In any case, it is important to be clear that these solutions do not completely eliminate Google's AI , but they do make the search engine behave much more like it did before, with a clear priority for classic organic results.
Extreme extensions: Block recent content to avoid AI junk
In addition to fighting AI embedded in browsers or search engines, some are going further and seeking to directly filter AI-generated content on the web . One particularly striking proposal in this regard is Slop Evader, a Chrome extension designed as a "firewall" against what its creators consider generative junk.
Slop Evader works by modifying Google search queries to exclude any results indexed after November 30, 2022 , a date they symbolically mark as the day ChatGPT impacted the internet and began the massive explosion of synthetic content. In this way, the extension only displays pages published before that date.
Installation is like any other extension: add it to Chrome, activate it, and let it automatically filter all searches . The immediate effect is that tons of text and articles created during the era of generative AI disappear, minimizing the likelihood of encountering pages mass-produced by automated models.
The price to pay is clear: current news, technological advances, and relevant content published after 2022 are also missed . It's an almost monastic approach that sacrifices timeliness in favor of greater confidence that what you're reading was written by humans, or at least before the massive generative avalanche.
The crisis of trust in online content and the role of C2PA
Slop Evader illustrates a fundamental problem: if the only way to be relatively sure you're reading human content is to stop searching for new things , it means the internet is facing a profound crisis of trust. Organizations like Europol have already warned that, in just a few years, the vast majority of online content could be synthetic.
Given this situation, instead of trying to automatically detect what is fake—something that is becoming increasingly difficult—some experts are advocating for the cryptographic certification of what is real . This is where C2PA (Coalition for Content Provenance and Authenticity) comes in, proposing the creation of a “digital birth certificate” for images, video, and audio.
The idea is that devices will digitally sign the content at the time of capture , creating an unbroken chain of custody from the camera to the user's screen. This way, anyone could verify whether a photo, video clip, or audio recording has been manipulated or generated entirely by AI.
Manufacturers like Qualcomm have incorporated C2PA support in chips like the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 , allowing pixel signing at the point of capture, while cameras from brands like Sony, Canon or Leica are already able to add that signature of authenticity with firmware updates in models like the Sony Alpha 9 III or the Canon EOS R1.
The major problem is that many online platforms delete or ignore this information when uploading the file , breaking the chain of custody. There are exceptions: TikTok indicates which content has been captured by real cameras, and Google is starting to use C2PA in features like "About this image" within Search and Ads. LinkedIn, for its part, adds an icon to certified images that allows users to inspect their editing history.
If these types of standards were extended to other formats, such as text or web pages, and all major platforms respected them, it would be possible to flip a "switch" to hide uncertified content , achieving an effect very similar to "turning off AI" at the browsing level.
For now, however, many of the same companies embracing C2PA are playing a double game, boosting their own AI creation tools while promising to reduce the visibility of AI generated by third parties. The result is that synthetic junk doesn't disappear; it just changes hands.
While tech giants continue to exploit artificial intelligence as a money-printing machine and a means to consolidate content monopolies , solutions for users lie in regaining control of their immediate environment: their browser, search engine, and the extensions they use. By adjusting these elements, it's possible to maintain a much cleaner browsing experience, with less distracting content and more focus on the information that truly matters.
