Google Search Lets Users Block AI Overviews With '-ai' Query Modifier
Updated
Updated · 9to5Google · May 23
Google Search Lets Users Block AI Overviews With '-ai' Query Modifier
9 articles · Updated · 9to5Google · May 23
Google Search users can suppress AI Overviews on individual searches by adding “-ai” to the end of a query, an undocumented-feeling shortcut highlighted in the latest report.
Google still offers no global off switch for AI Overviews, treating them as a built-in Search feature much like Featured Snippets and Knowledge Panels.
The “-ai” trick works as a query operator rather than a permanent setting, giving users a quick way to get results without AI summaries when needed.
Google already supports other operators and a “Web” filter that returns a more traditional “10 blue links” results page, underscoring growing demand for cleaner search results.
Google's AI is the new information gatekeeper. How can your business get cited instead of being erased from search results?
As Google's AI erodes website traffic, is this the beginning of the end for the open web?