As Google expands its AI Overviews across search, some early adopters are already stepping back. One of them is Andrew Grush, a tech writer and AI enthusiast, who shared why he chose to turn off AI Overviews—and why others may want to consider doing the same.
When Google first launched the feature through Search Labs, it seemed promising. AI-generated summaries appeared at the top of results, quickly answering simple questions like “When did World War II start?” But as Grush and others soon noticed, more complex queries exposed serious cracks in accuracy. Dates, technical details, and buying recommendations were often inconsistent or misleading.
“I want to be in control of when and where I use AI, not the other way around,” Grush explained.
For casual, low-stakes questions, he prefers ChatGPT or Gemini. But when researching critical topics or making purchase decisions, traditional Google search—with links to trusted sources—remains the tool of choice.
Why Users Are Turning Away
Concerns about trust, control, and safety are driving users to disable AI Overviews. Some AI-generated advice has been flagged as inaccurate, outdated, or even dangerous, ranging from bizarre mechanical tips to health misinformation. These errors undermine confidence in AI-driven results, especially when no official “opt-out” exists.
Many users now find themselves instinctively scrolling past AI-generated summaries, preferring to dig into verified links further down the page. Others are resorting to browser tweaks and custom search settings to filter AI content out entirely.
How to Turn Off AI Overviews
While Google doesn’t provide a direct option to disable AI Overviews, there are workarounds:
- On Desktop (Chrome):
- Open
chrome://settings/searchEngines - Add a new search engine with the string:
{google:baseURL}search?q=%s&udm=14 - Set it as default to bypass AI results.
- Open
- On Mobile:
- Visit tenbluelinks.org from your phone.
- Switch your browser’s search engine to “Google Web” in settings.
- This filters out AI Overviews in mobile search.
- On Firefox:
- Add a custom search engine with the string:
google.com/search?udm=14&q=%s - Set it as default to keep search results AI-free.
- Add a custom search engine with the string:
The Bigger Picture
For now, AI Overviews remain controversial. While Google argues the feature saves time and simplifies results, many users question its reliability and transparency. Until accuracy and trust improve, more people may follow Grush’s lead and take steps to minimize exposure to AI-generated results.
Whether AI Overviews become a lasting part of Google Search—or a short-lived experiment—will depend on how well the company balances innovation with user trust.
