Google’s AI Overviews are still in the development phase and have faced criticism for offering inaccurate, and at times, potentially harmful information. If you’d like to avoid encountering this feature altogether, there’s a surprisingly enjoyable method to turn it off.
Add Any Expletive to Your Search Query
A tip has been circulating on social media, particularly emphasized by Ars Technica: you can simply add any curse word you please into your search query to disable the AI Overviews.
Initially, I was doubtful, but within a few minutes, I verified that this approach actually works. I started off by searching for “where should I put my outdoor camera,” which showed the usual AI Overview at the top of the results page.
When I searched for “where should I put my f***ing outdoor camera,” I found that the search results page no longer featured the AI Overview. I tested this method with several queries, and each time, it was effective. I could incorporate a variety of expletives, not just the f-bomb, anywhere within the search phrase to eliminate the AI feature.
Interestingly, using lighter insults like “useless” didn’t have the same effect on disabling the AI Overviews.
Although there’s no clear explanation for why swearing in the query works to bypass the AI Overviews, it does provide a quirky and stress-relieving solution while searching on Google.
Other Methods to Disable AI Overviews
If explicit language isn’t your style, there are numerous alternatives to avoiding the AI Overviews.
Some methods are quick and easy, such as installing a Chrome extension or selecting More > Web from the Google search options. Other methods might require a bit more effort, like setting up a custom search engine.
However, if you’re in a hurry and want to steer clear of potentially misleading information, using a curse word is both a straightforward and amusing option.
