How to remove AI summaries from your Google searches

Searching the internet has taken a significant turn with the arrival of automatic summaries at the top of Google. Many users have encountered this view, called AI Overview, and are wondering how to disable or avoid these AI- generated panels to return to the classic, unadorned list of blue links.

Throughout this guide, we explore exactly what this feature is, why it appears, its limitations, and, above all, what practical methods exist today to minimize its presence on computers and mobile devices. We also review alternative search engines, extensions, browser settings, some experimental Google options, and the pros and cons of disabling these summaries. Everything is explained in a clear and accessible way, step by step.

What is AI Overview and why it has changed your results?

AI Overview is a featured block that Google places at the top of the search results page. Using natural language models and machine learning techniques, it compiles a summary of information from multiple sources to provide an immediate answer to your query without requiring you to visit any website.

In addition to text, this section can include visuals and interactions , and allows you to ask follow-up questions without having to reformulate your search from scratch. In practice, the experience is more conversational, as Google tries to keep you engaged on its page with a quick summary.

The company considers this view a key part of its strategy: it wants to combine, synthesize, and present information in a useful and direct way. In fact, the transition aligns with other moves within the Google ecosystem, such as the shift from Bard to Gemini , its family of models that also drives these responses.

Behind this new feature lies a technical aspect to consider: AI-based summaries work best with good internet connections. While you might not always notice it, these types of results can require more bandwidth and a stable network to load and update quickly.

Can AI Overview be completely disabled?

Currently, there's no override switch in your Google account to permanently turn off AI Overview. The company doesn't offer a universal, stable option to disable the feature for all searches, so by default, you'll continue to see the summary whenever Google deems it appropriate.

This doesn't mean there aren't solutions. There are shortcuts to avoid it and strategies to reduce its appearance: from using filters like the Web tab to changing your search engine to one that forces classic results, to using extensions that hide that block or browsers where it appears less frequently.

It's important to keep in mind that even when applying these methods, there's no 100% guarantee . Google is constantly evolving its tests, interfaces, and parameters, and what works today might change over time , so it's advisable to have several alternatives up your sleeve.

Effective ways to avoid AI summaries on Google

Activate the Web tab when the summary appears

When an AI Overview appears at the top of the page, you can force the traditional link listing to appear using the Web filter. Simply click on Web in the top bar (if you don't see it, tap More and select it). From then on, Google will only show the standard results , without the AI-generated block.

To avoid repeating this process each time, save a bookmark that already includes Web mode , and with one click you'll have the classic view. It's a manual but very reliable solution, especially if you don't want to install anything else in your browser.

Use the UDM-14 parameter in the URL

There's a handy trick: add &udm=14 to the end of the results address. For example: https://www.google.com/search?q=que+es+gemini&udm=14. This parameter tells the search engine that return only conventional web results, which AI summarization typically prevents.

If you find it tedious to type it every time, the next section allows you to automate it: create a custom search engine that always adds it transparently when you search from the address bar.

Create a non-AI search engine in Chrome (computer)

In Chrome for desktop, you can define a search engine that includes the UDM-14 parameter by default. This way, every time you type a query in the omnibar, the "web-only" version will load by default.

• Opens chrome://settings/searchEngines.
• Go to Search > Site Search > Add.
• Complete the fields: Name: Google without AI · Shortcut: @web · URL : {google:baseURL}search?q=%s&udm=14.
• Save and set it as default from the three-dot menu.

With this setting, all searches from the Chrome search bar will return results without AI Overview. Note that if you go directly to google.com and search from the search box, you may see the summary again.

Avoid AI Overview on mobile: Chrome and Firefox

On phones, things are different, since Chrome Mobile doesn't allow you to add a custom search engine as easily. Even so, there's a handy shortcut that uses an intermediary portal to make "Google Web" appear among your recently visited search engines. It works without extensions.

On Chrome mobile: First, visit the site that enables the "Google Web" search engine (for example, tenbluelinks.org), open a second tab, perform any search, and go to Settings > Search Engine. Under "Recently Visited," choose Google Web as your search engine. This forces Chrome to use classic search results when you type in the address bar, although if you navigate to google.com and search there, the summary might appear again.

In Firefox for Android Yes, you can add an engine manually. In Settings > Search > Default search engine > Add search engine, fill in: Name: AI‑free Web · URL : https://www.google.com/search?udm=14&q=%s. After saving it as default, Searches from the bar will use non-AI mode consistently.

Extensions that hide the AI ​​section

If you prefer the quick route and don't mind installing add-ons, there are extensions that remove the AI ​​Overview block from view. They don't disable the feature in Google, but they visually hide it so you can browse as if it weren't there.

• Hide Google AI Overviews: very focused on hiding just that module. Light and straightforward.
• Bye, Bye Google AI: goes further and allows you to hide ads, shopping blocks, videos and “Other user questions”. Ideal if you want a general cleaning.
• uBlock Origin: With custom rules, advanced users can selectively filter out the AI ​​block and other SERP elements.

The advantage is clear: they install in seconds and that's it. On the other hand, they depend on third parties and on Google not changing selectors or rules . Furthermore, the company has restricted extensions in the past that conflicted with its interests, so it's wise to have alternatives in case they stop working.

Make searches more specific or with a clear destination

Another simple way to avoid the summary is to refine your query: if you include a website name, author, or article title, Google tends to show direct links rather than a generic AI Overview. For example, “what is Gemini Lowi” usually leads you to a specific result without going through the automatic summary.

This search habit also helps when you want to compare sources: it attracts results with greater navigational intent instead of broad answers that try to cover everything in a single block.

Browsers where it appears less frequently

Some users have noticed that, depending on the account and settings, AI Overview appears less frequently in browsers like Firefox or Safari . This isn't a hard and fast rule, but you can try alternatives if it appears all the time on your current device and you prefer a more traditional experience.

Try experimental options in Google Labs (if available)

Google has occasionally offered controls within its testing environment (Labs) to enable or disable features. In some profiles, you'll find the option to disable the AI ​​Overview experiment . Access Labs, find the relevant project, and turn it off if you have the switch.

Even with the toggle turned off, some users have continued to see the summary in certain types of queries. It's not a guaranteed solution and may disappear without warning, but it's worth checking your account.

Advantages and disadvantages of dispensing with the summary with AI

Removing or hiding AI Overview returns you to a more familiar results page, with space to compare sources and delve deeper. For many, consulting the original source directly is key, especially for complex topics.

• Greater diversity of perspectives and possibility of assess the context by yourself.
• Less risk of biases, errors or omissions in the synthesis.
• “Classic” search experience with more control over what you read and who.

The other side of the coin is that, in simple or transactional queries, summaries save time . By forgoing them, you might need more clicks and a little more patience to reach the same information.

• More steps to answer basic questions.
• No conversational refinement features within the SERP itself.
• Possible loss of news and improvements that Google incorporates AI over time.

Google's direction: AI as a central bet

The company is focused on ensuring its search engine not only indexes but also interprets and presents content in a useful, fast, and personalized way. The switch from Bard to Gemini is another piece of the puzzle: Gemini is the conversational and modeling system that also powers AI Overview within Search.

With this strategy, Google aims to differentiate itself from emerging search engines and generative AI assistants . Immediate answers and summaries are part of the value they want to offer, even though this puts a strain on the balance with content creators and user habits.

AI-powered history search in Chrome: Requirements, controls, and data

In addition to AI Overview, Google is testing features that generate answers based on your own browsing history in Chrome. Currently, there are limitations: it's only available to users over 18, in the United States, and with Chrome in English , and it also requires a high-performance computer.

If you enable "AI-powered history search" in Settings > AI innovations, Chrome will locally save the content of the page you're currently viewing , in addition to the title and URL . Only sites visited after enabling this feature will be used, and you can disable it at any time.

When you search your history, you may receive a "Generated Response" in a Summary section or see "Best Matches from Your History." In both cases, the results are based on the content that was there when you visited , even if the pages have changed since then.

Google states that queries, responses, and matches may be sent to its servers to improve the feature, including research using generative models and machine learning. Human review of data may be conducted to analyze issues, and saving pages locally may impact browser performance.

Alternative search engines that do not display AI Overview

If you prefer to avoid these types of summaries altogether, you can opt for search engines that don't include them. This is a direct way to regain simplicity and, in many cases, more privacy.

DuckDuckGo

This search engine doesn't save your history or track your activity. It draws from hundreds of sources (including Wikipedia and Bing, among others) and doesn't display AI Overview-style summaries. It features "bangs ," shortcuts like !w for Wikipedia or !yt for YouTube.

Brave search

Based on its own index and focused on privacy, Brave offers an AI-powered assistant called Summarizer, but you decide whether to enable it. If you disable it, you'll get results without automatic summarization , independent of Google.

StartPage

It uses Google search results without collecting your personal data and allows for enhanced browsing protection with its "Anonymous View." It doesn't integrate automatic summaries, opting instead for a traditional list of links with a focus on privacy.