- Practical tricks like adding "-ai" or using the Web filter allow you to minimize AI summaries in Google.
- There is no official button to completely disable AI Overviews, but there are workarounds in desktop, mobile, and extensions.
- Different search engines, such as DuckDuckGo and Brave, offer more control to turn their own AI summaries on or off.
- Whichever method is chosen, it is always advisable to verify AI information by going to the original sources.
Connecting to the internet today means dealing with a veritable deluge of AI-powered features : assistants and agents , chat sidebars, and, of course, automatic summaries in search engines. Every time you perform a Google search, it's very likely that the first thing you see is no longer the classic ten blue links, but a block of AI-generated text that attempts to answer everything at a glance.
For many users, this can be convenient, but for others, it has become a source of noise, errors, and a loss of control over what appears on the screen. If you're bothered by Google "summarizing" the web before you decide what you want to read, here you'll find, in detail, all the tricks, limitations, and real alternatives that currently exist to minimize or avoid these AI summaries.
What are Google's AI summaries and why do they appear so often?
When you perform a search, Google may display a block at the top generically called AI Overview . This is text generated using natural language models ( Google's Gemini family ) that combines snippets from different pages to provide a quick answer without requiring you to open any links.
These summaries are not activated for absolutely every query, but they are for those where the system believes it can provide a direct and relatively short answer . They are especially common in general information queries, simple explanations, or questions with some context—precisely the searches where many users would prefer to go directly to the original websites.
The major problem is that, by condensing so much information into a small space, the system can lose nuance, mix opinions with facts , and prioritize content that isn't always the most rigorous or up-to-date. It's no coincidence that Google displays a warning below the summary, making it clear that AI responses may contain errors and directing users to its own help page where it acknowledges these limitations.
It's also important to understand the difference between IA Overview and Gemini . They're both part of the same ecosystem, but they're not the same: IA Overview is the built-in Search feature that generates the summary block on the results page, while Gemini is the set of models and conversational assistant that exists separately, on its own website and app. In practice, IA Overview is what you see at the top of the SERP, and Gemini is the "engine" that powers it, as well as being a standalone product for chatting or creating content.
Why do so many people want to disable AI summaries?
In theory, these summaries are meant to save time, but in practice many users feel they hinder more than they help . They take up considerable space above the traditional results, push down the links that are actually relevant, and introduce an additional intermediary between your search and the original sources.
Furthermore, several cases have gone viral in which AI Overviews gave absurd or outright incorrect answers . The most discussed example was a recommendation to use glue when baking pizza, along with other striking errors that reignited the debate about how reliable it is to let a probabilistic system summarize third-party content without direct human oversight.
Google maintains that it has improved the accuracy and refined the behavior of these models over time , and has indeed corrected many problematic outputs. Even so, it acknowledges that, due to the very nature of generative AI, there will still be errors and unfortunate responses, and therefore continues to emphasize that users should verify information by consulting multiple sources.
The discontent isn't limited to the search engine: other products like Gmail are integrating automatic email summarization features , something many users consider unnecessary, especially when the original message is shorter than the summary itself. The general feeling is that AI is creeping in everywhere, sometimes without providing clear options for disabling it in a granular way.
The trick of using “-ai” and other operators to hide summaries
In the absence of an official button to turn off AI, one of the most discussed solutions has emerged from the user community: adding “-ai” to the end of the search . This simple trick relies on a classic Google operator used to exclude specific terms from the results.
When you type a query and end it with something like "-ai," the search engine interprets this as a way to filter results related to that word . As a side effect, in many searches this causes the AI summary module to disappear completely, displaying only traditional results, since the result structure changes when that filter is applied.
Specialized publications like PCMag have confirmed that this behavior isn't exclusive to "-ai": it can also work with other hyphenated combinations , such as "-1" or "-z," because the important thing isn't the exact word but the fact of introducing an excluded term. Again, the effect is that Google reorganizes the SERP and, in that process, leaves out the AI Overview block.
It's important to emphasize that this isn't an official feature designed to disable AI, but rather an indirect consequence of how they manage the opt-out operator . Google doesn't guarantee that this will remain the same over time, and the behavior could change at any moment if they adjust the algorithm or the results design.
In tests conducted by various media outlets and users, the "-ai" trick appears to work primarily in desktop browsers . On mobile devices, especially in the Chrome and Safari apps for iOS, AI summaries generally continue to appear despite adding this operator, although on some Android devices (such as certain Pixel models) the AI block has been observed to disappear when using it.
How to apply this trick in everyday life
To take advantage of this, simply get into the habit of adding a hyphen suffix to the end of your search . It can be "-ai", but also any other suffix like "-z" if you prefer it to have no semantic meaning for you. For example: "best private browser -ai" or "homemade bread recipe -z".
Over time, this can become pure muscle memory, just as many people add "Reddit" or the name of a forum to their searches to go directly to real user reviews. The obvious drawback is that it gets a bit tedious having to type it into every single search , especially if you use the search engine compulsively throughout the day.
In any case, until Google offers finer control, this method remains one of the quickest and easiest ways for those who want to avoid AI summaries without changing their search engine or installing anything extra, at least when browsing from a computer.
Use the "Web" tab to see only classic links
Another official mechanism that Google openly acknowledges is the "Web" results filter . When you perform a search, at the top of the page, just below the search bar, tabs appear such as "All," "Images," "News," and, in many regions and languages, also "Web."
If you click on the Web tab, Google loads a view that removes AI-generated blocks, featured snippets, and knowledge panels , showing only links to web pages—much more like the "minimalist" Google of years past. It's the cleanest option for those who want to research, compare sources, or simply browse without generative intermediaries.
The problem is that, currently, you can't set this Web view as the default . Every time you perform a new search, the system automatically reverts to the overview view with AI Overview and other modules, forcing you to repeatedly switch tabs.
As a handy workaround, you can save a bookmark or favorite with Web View already enabled . This way, if you always access Google through that bookmark, the filter will be applied from the start and will only change when you tap another tab. On computers, it's useful to place this bookmark in the browser's bookmarks bar; on mobile devices, you can even add it to your home screen if your browser allows it.
On some devices, when you search using the Google app or the browser on iOS, a "classic search" button or equivalent option appears next to the results . Tapping it reloads the page and displays a list of links and, in some cases, short clips, with much less or no presence of the AI summary. It's not a global switch, but it is a relatively quick way to return to something closer to the usual experience.
Disable AI features from Google Labs and experimental options
Those who signed up for Google Labs to test the Search Generative Experience (SGE) have some additional control within the settings. From the Labs panel or the experimental features section of Search, it's possible to disable the SGE toggle or any versions that have replaced it over time.
Turning this switch off removes the enhanced generative summaries at the top of Search that were part of the experimental experience, and restores prominence to organic results and traditional ads . However, this doesn't mean that all AI modules disappear from the interface, as Google continues to progressively integrate features outside of Labs.
It's highly recommended to review these options periodically , because with each major update to Search or the terms of service, Google may change what's active or what these features are called. Sometimes, after a major product change, some users have seen experimental options reactivated that they had previously disabled.
Outside of the search engine, in services like Gmail or Workspace, controls for smart features, ad personalization, and AI are concentrated in other privacy menus. Currently, there isn't a single "no AI across Google" option, but rather a collection of small, scattered toggles that must be checked service by service.
Block AI blocks with extensions and content blockers
On computers, many users have opted for a more radical approach: completely hiding AI modules using extensions or blocking rules similar to those used for ads. The idea is to treat the AI Overview block as just another intrusive element on the page and prevent it from even rendering.
Another option, slightly more technical but very flexible, is to leverage advanced ad blockers (like uBlock Origin) to create custom rules that filter these modules. Simply inspect the page's code, locate the identifier or class associated with the AI summaries, and add a rule to block them.
This approach has some additional advantages: by not loading that block, the page can slightly reduce data consumption and somewhat improve loading speed , especially on slower connections. It's not a dramatic difference, but on laptops or older computers, any visual and resource relief is welcome.
The downside is that all these solutions depend on third parties and the stability of the search results page code . Google can change the HTML structure overnight, rearrange containers, or rename classes, which would partially break the functionality of the extensions until their developers update them. Therefore, it's best not to rely entirely on this as a permanent solution.
Alternative search engines without AI (or with optional AI)
Another option for those who are truly fed up with generative summaries is to change their search engine , even if they continue using the same browser. There's no need to abandon Chrome, Edge, or Safari: simply adjust the default search engine in the settings.
Among the most discussed options are DuckDuckGo and Brave Search . Both have positioned themselves as more privacy-friendly alternatives and, in this case, offer the ability to enable or disable their own AI summaries from the settings, with fairly clear toggles.
On DuckDuckGo, for example, you can disable smart summaries or generative modules for a more classic search experience focused on traditional links and snippets. Brave Search, on the other hand, lets you choose whether or not you want its generated "Answer" or summary to appear.
The advantage of this approach is that you regain what many consider a sense of “digital sovereignty” over the results page : you decide whether or not you want AI layers on top. For professional, academic, or journalistic uses, where checking the original source is especially valued, this can be key.
Changing your default search engine is easy: in Chrome, for example, just go to Settings > Search engine > Manage search engines and choose DuckDuckGo, Brave, or another one. On mobile devices, both iOS and Android, you can do something similar from the settings of your everyday browser.
Current limitations and future of AI controls at Google
Despite all the tricks and alternatives mentioned above, let's be realistic: currently, there isn't a single, global button on Google that completely disables AI Overviews across all accounts and searches. What we have are workarounds, shortcuts, and partial options that improve the situation, but don't eliminate them entirely.
Google maintains that most users find these summaries useful and that, according to their data, they encourage people to perform more searches . They also compare these features to other built-in elements that can't be removed, such as knowledge panels. From that perspective, they don't seem to be in any hurry to offer a big red "no AI" switch.
Even so, the introduction of more customization options in the future cannot be ruled out , especially if pressure from users, regulators, and competitors continues to grow. There is an increasing demand for the ability to choose how information is presented and to avoid relying solely on AI layers that summarize everything without explicit user request.
Meanwhile, the most prudent approach is to consider AI summaries as a first guide, subject to errors , never as the final word. For sensitive searches (health, finances, important decisions), it is especially advisable to open several links and compare what the AI says with the original, verified, and, if possible, specialized sources.
In short, if you can't stand Google's AI summaries, you have several options available today: using operators like "-ai", using the Web tab, disabling experimental features in Labs, installing extensions that hide the generative blocks, or switching to alternative search engines that allow you to turn off their own AI. None of these options are perfect or permanent, but combined they give you back a good deal of control over what appears on your screen every time you search online.
