Disabling AI Summaries: Using Google Search's 'Web' Filter Step-by-Step

Prefer the familiarity of a classic search interface instead of AI-crafted summaries? Learn how to bypass Google's latest AI Overview feature.

In the race to challenge Google's search supremacy, AI innovators such as OpenAI and Perplexity AI are striving to offer users more tailored responses. In response, Google has introduced its own AI Overview feature.

By integrating Gemini's multi-step reasoning capabilities with its existing search systems, Google aims to deliver swift topic overviews, sparing users the hassle of sifting through numerous search results. While Google touts this AI enhancement as the herald of the 'next era of search', it may not suit everyone's preferences.

For those partial to Google's traditional search results page, the company has introduced a new "Web" filter. This filter removes AI-generated summaries, advertisements, featured snippets, and other distractions. If you're inclined towards simplicity, this guide delves into Google's web function, offering steps to activate it.

Google Launches New AI Overview Feature

Since its inception in 1998, Google has largely adhered to a familiar format for its search results, and it's paid off handsomely. With a staggering 92% grip on the search engine market, competitors like Microsoft Bing and Yahoo have struggled to gain traction.

However, the emergence of AI-powered search engines, propelled by breakthroughs such as OpenAI's ChatGPT in 2022, has ushered in a new chapter in search functionality. One notable contender is Perplexity AI, which provides users with concise, AI-generated summaries.

At Google's recent I/O developer conference, held a year after the company acknowledged AI's pivotal role in the future of search, it unveiled its own response: the AI Overview feature. This innovation aims to streamline the user experience by "taking the hard work out of searching."

Similar to other AI-driven search engines, Google's AI Overview furnishes users with focused summaries of topics, complemented by images and links for deeper exploration. Drawing from various sources, including its own web repositories, it harnesses the sophisticated multi-step reasoning and planning capabilities of Gemini, Google's proprietary multimodal AI model.

According to Liz Reid, Google's newly appointed head of Search, this capability alleviates much of the search burden, allowing users to concentrate on the tasks they wish to accomplish or the aspects of exploration they find most intriguing. This assertion finds support in research conducted by the search engine optimization firm Onley, which indicates that Search Generative Experience (SGE) can significantly condense a user's research journey, making it 10 to 20 times more efficient by consolidating relevant information in one accessible location.

Returning to Search Roots: Google Introduces 'Web' Filter for Users Seeking Simplicity

Despite Google's enthusiasm for its new AI enhancements, not everyone is convinced. Critics, such as those from the Washington Times, argue that the Search Generative Experience (SGE) often elevates lower-quality websites as reliable sources of information. Furthermore, chatbots like Gemini and ChatGPT have faced criticism for providing inaccurate responses and perpetuating harmful stereotypes, casting doubt on the reliability of Google's AI-powered search results.

Whether you're skeptical of AI or simply prefer the familiar, Google has introduced a solution: the "Web" filter. This feature allows users to access Google's traditional blue-link search results, devoid of distractions like knowledge panels, featured snippets, Shopping modules, and AI summaries. It provides a stripped-back browsing experience, enabling users to navigate search results without unnecessary interference.

While the feature is currently available to desktop users in the US, Google has yet to announce whether it will also be rolled out for mobile users.

Taking Control: Google's Fresh Web Filter Blocks AI Summaries and Beyond

Thankfully, activating the feature is a breeze. While browsing, simply click on Google's 'Web' option located just below the search bar.

However, Google has noted that the feature might not always be prominently displayed in the primary carousel on desktop. If you don't see it there, click on "More" and then choose "Web" from the drop-down menu.

If you're still not seeing it, don't fret. The company is gradually rolling out the new search feature, so it may take some time before it becomes accessible to everyone.