Google's AI Overviews have transformed the way search results are presented, placing an AI-generated summary at the top of the page before traditional blue links. While intended to provide quick answers, these summaries often reduce user engagement with publishers and can sometimes provide inaccurate information. A 2025 Pew Research Center study found that when an AI Overview appears, users click a traditional search link only 8% of the time compared to 15% without summaries. Additionally, 58% of adults surveyed saw at least one AI Overview during their searches, and only 1% of those led to a click on a cited source. This shift has raised concerns about the impact on journalism and the reliability of information. Although Google has not provided an official toggle to disable AI Overviews, several workarounds exist. Here are four easy methods to hide or avoid them and restore a classic search experience.
1. Use the '-AI' modifier in your search query
Appending a simple "-AI" modifier to your search query is the quickest and easiest way to bypass AI summaries. This works on both desktop and mobile browsers, including the Google app. Simply type your search term followed by a space and then "-AI". For example, if you want to learn how to clear an iPhone cache, type: "how to clear iPhone cache -AI". Press Enter, and you will see a list of standard blue links without any AI-generated overviews at the top. It is important to note that you might still encounter featured snippets, which have existed for years. Unlike AI Overviews, featured snippets include a prominent link to the source and display only a small excerpt, encouraging users to click through for more details. AI Overviews, in contrast, often summarize the entire answer, leaving little incentive to explore further. This method is effective for individual searches but requires manual input each time.
2. Enable Web Guide mode
Google recently introduced a new Search Labs experiment called Web Guide mode. This feature uses AI to organize search results but deprioritizes AI Overviews, placing classic blue links at the top and pushing summaries further down the page. To enable Web Guide, sign into your Google account, navigate to Search Labs, and select the Web Guide experiment. Toggle the option to enable it. Once activated, perform any search on a desktop browser. You will see the Web Guide experience under the Web tab alongside All, Images, Videos, and other tabs. Note that this is currently available only for desktop users and remains an experimental feature that may not roll out widely. Web Guide offers a balanced approach: you still benefit from AI-powered organization but regain familiar link-heavy results.
3. Use the Web tab and create a custom site search shortcut
Google's Web tab, often hidden under the More menu, provides classic search results without AI Overviews. However, manually switching to this tab for every query can be tedious. A more efficient solution is to create a custom site search shortcut in Chrome. First, open Chrome and go to Settings > Search engine > Manage search engines and site search. Under Site search, click Add. Fill in the following: Name: Google (Web), Shortcut: https://www.google.com/, URL: {google:baseURL}search?udm=14&q=%s. Click Add, then next to your new custom site search, click the three-dot menu and select Make default. Once set, every address-bar query will automatically use the Web filter, completely bypassing AI Overviews. Similar configurations are possible in Firefox and Edge by adding the same URL pattern. Firefox even supports this on mobile devices. This method is ideal for power users who want a permanent solution.
4. Install a browser extension
Several browser extensions can hide AI Overviews from Google Search results on desktop. For example, extensions like "Hide AI Overviews" or "Bye Bye, Google AI" are available in the Chrome Web Store. To use one, visit the Chrome Web Store, search for an appropriate extension, and click Add to Chrome. Confirm the installation, then reload any Google Search page. The AI summary panel will no longer be visible. Microsoft Edge also offers similar extensions through its add-ons store. While these extensions effectively remove AI summaries from view, they only work on desktop browsers and may require occasional updates as Google changes its interface. Additionally, users should be cautious about granting permissions to extensions and only install those from reputable developers.
Background on AI Overviews
Google's AI Overviews were launched in the United States in May 2024 after being announced at Google I/O. They are powered by Gemini AI and designed to provide concise answers to user queries without requiring a click-through to individual websites. As of mid-2025, AI Overviews are available in more than 200 countries and territories and in over 40 languages. The feature has been controversial since its inception, with early examples of absurd or dangerous advice, such as recommending glue to keep pizza cheese from sliding off. These incidents highlighted the limitations of AI-generated content and sparked discussions about the reliability of automated summaries. Despite widespread criticism, Google has continued to expand the feature, prompting users to seek workarounds.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are Google AI Overviews and where are they available?
Google's AI Overviews are AI-generated summaries that appear at the top of search results to provide quick answers. They launched in the US in May 2024 and are now available in over 200 countries and 40 languages. They aim to reduce the need to click through to individual sites, but this has raised concerns about their impact on web traffic and accuracy.
Can I disable or turn off Google's AI summaries in Search?
No, Google has not provided an official toggle to disable AI Overviews. The methods described here—using the "-AI" modifier, enabling Web Guide mode, using the Web tab with a custom shortcut, or installing a browser extension—are the only known workarounds as of mid-2025.
What's the difference between Google's Web tab and Web Guide mode?
The Web tab offers pure classic search results with blue links and no AI summaries. It is hidden under the More menu. Web Guide mode, a Search Labs experiment, uses AI to organize links by topic but places AI Overviews further down the page, allowing blue links to appear first. Web Guide is only available on desktop.
Can I use alternative search engines to avoid AI summaries?
Yes, several alternative search engines, such as Dogpile and Metacrawler, do not include AI summaries. DuckDuckGo offers an AI assist feature that can be disabled when prompts appear. These alternatives allow users to avoid AI-generated content entirely while still accessing web results.
Which method is recommended?
The simplest method is to append "-AI" to your search queries. It works on both desktop and mobile and requires no setup. For a more permanent solution on desktop, consider creating a custom site search shortcut in Chrome or installing a browser extension. Web Guide mode is a good option if you want a hybrid experience.
Source: ZDNET News