How to disable AI from your web searches

[nerdslife_team]

AI-generated content is increasingly prevalent, influencing everything from image creation to coding and even search results. Many search engines now rely heavily on AI, and options to disable AI overviews are disappearing. If you’re seeking information curated by humans or want to steer clear of potentially inaccurate AI-generated facts, here’s how to refine your web searches.

Method 1: Using the Hide Google AI Overviews Chrome extension

This extension automatically filters out AI-generated content from your Google search results, ensuring you only see human-written content.

1. Go to the Chrome Web Store and install the Hide Google AI Overviews extension.
   

   

2. Once installed, the extension will automatically hide AI Overviews in your search results. You won’t see any AI-generated summaries at the top of your Google searches.
   

   

3. To manage the extension, click the Extensions button in Chrome and select Hide Google AI Overviews. Pinning the extension provides quick access.
   

   

Method 2: The ‘Web’ filter

Even though you can’t completely turn off AI Overviews on Google, you can revert to traditional search results using the ‘Web’ filter.

1. Perform a Google search in your browser. If available, AI Overviews will appear at the top.
   

   

2. Click the ‘Web’ option at the top to view non-AI results. If you don’t see ‘Web’, it might be under the ‘More’ menu.
   

   

3. Switching to the ‘Web’ filter removes AI Overviews from your search results.
   

   

4. When using the ‘Web’ filter, the URL contains &udm=14. This parameter prevents AI Overviews from appearing.
   

   

5. Copy the &udm=14 part and add it to any Google search URL to view results without AI Overviews.
   

   

6. Alternatively, use udm14.com for AI-free Google searches by default.
   

   

7. To make this your default, right-click the address bar in Chrome and select ‘Manage search engines and site search’.
   

   

8. Since you can’t edit the existing Google search engine, click ‘Add’ to create a new shortcut.
   

   

9. Name the new search engine (e.g., Web Search) and enter https://www.google.com/search?q=%s&udm=14 in the URL field. Add a shortcut and click ‘Add’.
   

   

10. Type your shortcut (e.g., ws) to see the ‘Search Web Search’ option. Then, type your query for AI-free results.
    

    

11. Make this your default by clicking the three dots to its right and selecting ‘Make default’.
    

    

**Note:** You can also add `&tbs=li:1` to Google search URLs to force the search engine to use your exact words and phrases.

Method 3: With the udm14 extension in Firefox

If Firefox is your browser of choice, you can use the udm14 extension to remove AI Overviews.

1. Visit the udm14 extension page in Firefox and click ‘Add to Firefox’.
   

   

2. Perform a Google search to confirm that AI Overviews no longer appear.
   

   

Method 4: Setting Google Web as the default search engine in Firefox

Another way to disable AI Overviews in Firefox is by changing the default search engine.

1. In Firefox, go to TenBlueLinks.org.
   

   

2. Right-click on the address bar and select ‘Add Google Web’.
   

   

3. Click the hamburger menu (three horizontal lines) at the top right.
   

   

4. Select ‘Settings’ from the menu.
   

   

5. In Settings, click ‘Search’ on the left.
   

   

6. Select ‘Google Web’ from the ‘Default Search Engine’ dropdown.
   

   

Method 5: Turning off AI features in DuckDuckGo

DuckDuckGo recently introduced AI-generated results, but thankfully, you can easily disable them.

1. Open DuckDuckGo and click the hamburger menu at the top right.
   

   

2. Click ‘Settings’ in the menu.
   

   

3. Go to the ‘AI Features’ tab.
   

   

4. Turn off ‘Chat’ and set ‘Assist’ to ‘Never’. Then click ‘Save and Exit’.
   

   

Method 6: Turning off AI results in Brave search engine

Brave offers a straightforward way to disable AI features.

1. Go to the Brave homepage and click the gear icon at the top right.
   

   

2. In the dropdown, scroll to ‘Search Preferences’ and turn off ‘Answer with AI’.
   

   

Method 7: Disabling AI search results in Chrome on Android

Disabling AI search results in Chrome on Android requires a few more steps.

1. Open Chrome and go to TenBlueLinks.org.

2. Open a new tab and perform a Google search. Tap the three dots at the top right.
   

   
   
   
   

3. Select ‘Settings’ in the menu.

4. Tap ‘Search engine’.
   

   
   
   
   

5. Select ‘Google Web’ in the ‘Recently Visited’ section to remove AI search results.
   

   

Method 8: Turning off AI search results in Chrome on iOS

The steps are very similar to Android.

1. Open Chrome and go to TenBlueLinks.org.
2. Open a new tab and run a Google search.
3. Tap the three dots on the bottom right and select Settings.
4. Tap ‘Search Engine’.
5. Then select ‘Google Web’.

Method 9: Disabling AI search results in Firefox on Android

Here’s how to disable AI search results if the udm14 extension isn’t working.

1. Open Firefox on Android and tap the three dots at the top right.

2. Tap ‘Settings’.
   

   
   
   
   

3. Tap ‘Search’.

4. Tap ‘Default search engine’.
   

   
   
   
   

5. Tap ‘+ Add search engine’.

6. Enter a name (e.g., Web Search) and the URL: https://google.com/search?q=%s&udm=14.
   

   
   
   
   

7. Tap ‘Web Search’ to make it the default.
   

   

Things to know

• The ‘Web’ filter should also work in Firefox, though setting it as the default is more complex.
• Extensions like StopTheMadness and uBlock Origin can also block AI search results.
• While most browsers are integrating AI, Brave and DuckDuckGo let you disable AI features easily. Others may require extensions.
• In Edge, you might need to disable Copilot and adjust search engine settings as with Chrome.