Many of us wish to avoid AI as much as possible. It just isn’t necessary for what we want to do! And yet it creeps in when we least expect it or want it. For example, when we perform a simple Google search, an “AI Overview” sometimes appears at the top of the search results. You didn’t ask for that. And there seems to be no easy way to defeat it. But consider a few tactics for dealing with Google’s accursed AI Overview:
Change Your Search Engine
If you dig into your browser’s settings, you are allowed to change your search engine. Instead of Google, you can use Bing, DuckDuckGo and more for your web searches. But I must warn you that AI is creeping into most other search engines. While I recommend DuckDuckGo as a safe alternative search engine, AI even appears at the top of its results. At least with DuckDuckGo, there’s a tiny cogwheel on its AI that lets you turn it off.
Use a Browser Extension
Programmers have been developing browser extensions that will get rid of Google’s AI overviews. These freebies can install into your browser and fix the issue easily enough. Consider these, but only install one (using multiple extension like these could cause conflicts):
Curse at Your Computer
I apologize if this is inappropriate or crass, but some wry internet geniuses have discovered a way to suppress the Google search AI overviews without changing or installing anything on their computers. When they type in a search, they add a curse word. Apparently, using blue language in your search query helps you sidestep the AI.
Please don’t type profanity into a search bar, if it makes you feel uncomfortable. And certainly do not teach your children to do so. But to broaden your use of this tactic, you might try searching using minced oaths or silly substitutions, like “best goshdarn computer repair firm in Virginia” or “recommended $%^&#@ stocks to invest in for 2025”. Have fun with it and see if you find an easy alteration that works for you.