Google's AI Overviews, also known as the "Search Generative Experience," have become a prominent feature in search results, summarizing web content using advanced AI algorithms. While some users appreciate the convenience of these overviews, many find them intrusive or inaccurate. If you're among those who prefer traditional search results without AI-generated summaries.
Users have reported instances where the AI-generated summaries contain incorrect information, leading to confusion. Many people prefer the classic blue links that provide direct access to source content rather than summarised information. AI Overviews can take up significant space on the search results page, making it harder to find relevant links.
While this method is primarily for checking SIM ownership, it highlights how Google’s features can sometimes be cumbersome. For those looking for a cleaner search experience, consider switching to a "Web" search mode that omits AI summaries.
For Google Chrome:
Open Chrome and click on the three-dot menu in the top-right corner.
Go to Settings > Search engine > Manage search engines and site search.
Click Add next to Site search.
Fill in the following:
Name: Google Web
Shortcut: google.com
URL: {google:baseURL}/search?udm=14&q=%s
Click Add, then select the three-dot menu next to your new search engine and choose Make Default.
Now, when you search from the address bar, it will use this new Web search feature without AI Overviews.
If you prefer not to change your browser settings manually, you can install a Chrome extension called "Hide Google AI Overviews." This extension automatically removes AI-generated summaries from your search results:
Visit the Chrome Web Store and install the extension.
Once installed, it will automatically hide AI Overviews whenever you perform a Google search.
A quick workaround is simply adding "-AI" at the end of your search query. For example, if you're searching for "best pizza recipes," type "best pizza recipes -AI." This method may help bypass AI-generated summaries and display traditional results instead.
If you decide later that you want to see Google's AI Overviews again:
Simply go back into your browser settings and set Google as your default search engine again.
For extensions, you can disable or remove them from your browser settings.