How to Reduce AI Features Across Your Google Account

Google has integrated artificial intelligence into nearly every part of its ecosystem. From Search and Gmail to Docs and Drive, Gemini-powered features have become increasingly common. While many of these tools can improve productivity, not everyone wants AI embedded throughout their daily experience.

Although Google doesn’t offer a single switch to disable AI entirely, you can turn off several AI-powered features to reduce its presence across your account. Keep in mind that doing so may also disable some convenience features you already use.

Disable Google Workspace Smart Features

One of the easiest ways to minimize AI in Google’s apps is by turning off Workspace smart features. This affects services like Gmail, Google Docs, Sheets, Slides, Drive, and Calendar.

However, disabling these features comes with a trade-off. Certain helpful functions—such as automatically adding events from Gmail to Google Calendar or personalized recommendations across Google services—will no longer be available.

How to turn off Workspace smart features

1. Sign in to your Gmail account.
2. Click the Settings (gear) icon.
3. Select See all settings.
4. Stay on the General tab and scroll down to the Google Workspace smart features section.
5. Click Manage Workspace smart feature settings.
6. Turn off the following options:
   • Smart features in Google Workspace
   • Smart features in other Google products

Once these settings are disabled, many AI-powered suggestions and personalized features across Google’s services will stop working.

Can You Turn Off AI Overviews?

Unfortunately, Google doesn’t currently provide an official setting to completely disable AI Overviews in Search. However, there are a couple of methods that may reduce how often they appear.

Disable AI Experiments in Google Labs

If the Google Labs option is available for your account, you can disable AI-related experiments.

Follow these steps:

1. Open Google while signed in to your account.
2. Click the Labs (beaker) icon.
3. Navigate to AI experiments.
4. Open AI Overviews and more.
5. Switch the experiment off.

Keep in mind that this setting doesn’t always prevent AI Overviews from appearing, and results may vary depending on your region and account.

Use “-ai” in Your Search Query

A simple workaround that many users have found useful is adding -ai to the end of a Google search.

For example:

• Best Android phones 2026 -ai
• How to clean a laptop keyboard -ai

This often reduces the chances of AI-generated summaries appearing and works on both desktop and mobile searches. While it’s not guaranteed to work every time, it can be an easy way to get more traditional search results.

Other Ways to Avoid AI Results

If you’re looking for a more consistent experience without AI-generated content, you have a few additional options:

• Create a custom web filter that prioritizes standard search results.
• Use an alternative search engine that offers fewer AI-generated responses.
• Try a different web browser or search provider if minimizing AI is a priority.

Final Thoughts

Google continues to expand AI across its products, and there’s currently no single option to disable it completely. Still, by turning off Workspace smart features, disabling available AI experiments, and using search tricks like -ai, you can significantly reduce the amount of AI you encounter during everyday use.

If you prefer a more traditional Google experience, these settings are the closest thing to opting out—for now.