Fed up with the AI in Google Search? The company isn't offering the option to disable it, but these secret tricks will still work.
Google AI Search: If you want to see less AI Overview in Google Search, the easiest way is to add -AI to the end of your search query.
(How to turn off AI search in Google)
Google AI Search: Over the past few years, Google.com has rapidly added AI features to its search engine. First came AI Overviews, then AI Mode, and now the company has also introduced a new customized search box, which it is calling the biggest change to Search in the last two decades. But this AI experience is not necessarily liked by every user. Many people still prefer the old, simple search results that show direct website links and no AI answers in between.
The problem is that Google currently doesn't offer an official option to completely disable AI features in Search. The company considers AI Overviews a core part of Search. However, there are ways to significantly reduce AI results.
Add -AI to the end of the search.
If you want to see fewer AI overviews in Google Search, the easiest way is to add -AI to the end of your search query. For example, if you search for "best gaming laptop 2026 -AI" or "how to bake pizza -AI," Google often displays more general web results than AI-based answers.
In fact, Google has long supported search operators that help users search more precisely. For example, site: returns results from a specific website, while filetype: helps search for a specific file format, such as PDF or Excel.
Similarly, -AI also signals Google to prioritize AI-related results. While this method doesn't always work perfectly, it can significantly reduce the number of AI Overviews.
Get the old search experience by turning on Web Filter.
Google has another feature called Web Filter. Turning it on removes AI Overviews, Shopping Widgets, Knowledge Panels, and several other AI-based elements, leaving you with the classic old-style search page.
It's also very easy to use. First, perform a normal Google search. Then, below the search bar, where you see options like Images, Videos, and News, click More and then select Web. This will display simple search results containing only website links, making the search experience much cleaner and faster.
Using another search engine can also be a solution.
If you want to completely avoid Google's AI features, switching to another search engine may be a good option. The privacy-focused search engine duckduckgo.com?� gives users the option to disable AI features. It has a feature called Search Assist , but it can be turned off with a simple toggle.
Meanwhile, search.brave.com also strives to provide a Google-like experience and has its own web index. Brave also offers the Answer with AI feature, but the good thing is that it can be easily turned off in the Search Settings.
Will it be difficult to avoid AI in the future?
Tech companies are rapidly moving towards AI-based search, and this trend is likely to strengthen in the future. While achieving a completely AI-free search may be difficult, for now, using the methods described above can help you enjoy a largely pristine, clean search experience.