What is Google AI Overview, and Can I Turn it Off?

Technology has developed rapidly over the last 25 years, and with AI being incorporated into many areas, it has been at the forefront of controversy. Now, platforms like Google have launched AI software that is changing how users gather information and data and search for things online. Case in point: Google AI Overview.

Yet, what is a Google AI overview, and how do you turn it off? This blog post from My Computer Works provides all the answers you need about Google AI Overviews and details on how to turn off Google AI overviews.

What Is Google AI Overview? 

AI overviews are AI-generated summaries of search queries that provide you with the answers you need. Your question may only sometimes trigger this feature, but when it does, it will pull information from the internet and summarise it for you, so you won’t have to click on a website to find what you need to know. 

This feature was designed to improve the user experience by answering searches effectively, saving time, and decreasing frustration while searching for answers. The goal is to have more than a billion people access this feature before the end of 2024. 

However, the Google AI overview has been a hot topic since its release and is one of those Google features that Google users have mixed emotions and opinions about. Specifically, the concerns lay around the overall accuracy of the answers provided, which, when inaccurate, may lead to misinformation if taken at face value. 

There are also concerns that the AI cannot differentiate plagiarized content that is often incorrect and may present wrong answers, which is a concern when medical or psychological advice is searched. However, for the most part, it is meant to make people’s lives easier with faster searches once the ‘kinks’ are ironed out.

How Can You Turn Off Google AI Overview? 

We’re sure you’re asking yourself by now: Can I turn off Google AI Overview? Unfortunately, there are no settings to turn off Google AI Overview for all Google users, and it is a feature incorporated into the search results page. This means that it’s here to stay. 

However, you can use several methods to get search results that don’t trigger the Google AI Overviews. One option is manually filtering views for each query by clicking the “More” tab and filtering through what you want to use, such as the “Web” Option. After that, the results should only be links to credible sites where your answers can be found.

Another method you could try is using a browser extension that specializes in forcing a web-only view when a results page is shown. A few extensions have already been developed for popular search engines like Chrome, Firefox, and Vivaldi. At My Computer Works, we can help you install one of these extensions on your PC to bypass Google AI Overview search results. 

How Google AI Overview Can Be Helpful

Everyone knows that research and finding answers to specific questions can quickly become a time-consuming, tedious task that we often wish we could make more manageable. With Google AI overview, you can get a quick answer to your question without wasting time. The AI does all the heavy lifting in this scenario, which is excellent for those seeking a simple answer.

Based on the statistics of those who participated in an experiment in Search Labs, much feedback stated that many were thankful to have a short overview of the topics they searched before diving deeper into links and sources. The AI overview also offered opportunities for users to access more diverse websites to get answers to the more complex questions they may have asked.

Google AI overviews are still in their early stages. The developers want to eventually expand the feature’s experience between users by sending valuable traffic to creators and publishers. This will also include sponsored results and organic results, which will be clearly labeled to avoid more controversy. So, in the near future, it can be helpful to consider using it. 

Wrap-Up On Google AI Overview and How To Turn It Off

While you may not be able to turn off Google AI overview, if you opt to use one of the methods we’ve mentioned here, you will enjoy an everyday browsing experience that excludes this AI feature. 

However, Google AI Overviews seem to be a glimpse of what the future may look like, and whether that is a good or bad thing will depend on your search needs. Yet, it’s essential to remember that this feature is still in its early release phase and will need to be improved as time passes. So, if you opt to use this exciting feature, always ensure that the information you are being presented with is factual and relevant. 

Additionally, if you have any questions about Google AI Overview, you can contact us at My Computer Works. We’re well-versed in this new feature and can help you learn everything you need to know.