Google AI Overviews are the AI-generated summaries at the top of some search results, giving key information plus links to dig deeper. As of October 2026 Google says you can't turn them off, because they're a core Search feature like knowledge panels, but you can tap the Web filter after a search to see plain text links without them.
The catch: the Labs switch doesn't do what people think
Plenty of guides tell you to go into Search Labs and switch off AI in Search. That switch is real, but it only takes you out of Google's AI experiments. Labs is Google's testbed for new AI features in Search, and turning AI in Search off there stops you trying those experiments and getting emails when new ones arrive. It doesn't remove the standard AI Overview from your results.
If you still want out of the experiments, Google's route on a computer is: make sure you're signed in to your Google Account with Incognito mode off, open a new tab, click Labs, then Manage, and turn off AI in Search.
Google's help page is blunt about the core feature: AI Overviews are a core Search feature, and features can't be turned off. The only route Google offers for skipping them is the Web filter.
| What you want | What works, as of October 2026 |
|---|---|
| Turn AI Overviews off for good | Not possible, per Google |
| See results without them | Select the Web filter after you search |
| Stop AI experiments | Labs, Manage, turn off AI in Search |
| Flag a wrong answer | Thumbs down, then Report a problem |
| Ask follow-up questions | Show more, then the Ask anything bar for AI Mode |
How to search without seeing them
- Run your search as normal.
- Under the search bar, select the Web filter.
- You'll get text-based links only, without features like AI Overviews.
You have to do this per search, which is the annoying part. But it's the method Google itself points to. Google also says it's updating the settings for Search services, which include Search, Maps, Shopping and News, so what you see in settings may not match the help page exactly for a while.
When they show up, and when they don't
Google says AI Overviews appear when its systems decide generative AI can be especially helpful, for example when you want to understand information from a range of sources quickly. So a simple query might not trigger one, while a broader question often will.
They also appear when you search with an image or use Circle to Search, in the countries and languages where AI Overviews are available. Google's help page lists those by country and language, and the list is very wide.
Can you trust what they say?
Google's own wording is that AI responses may include mistakes, and that AI Overviews can and will make mistakes. Its advice for readers, as of October 2026:
- Check important information in more than one place.
- Click the supporting links in the overview, and try other search results too.
- Ask several versions of your question, or ask for different opinions or more detail.
I'd add one thing from my own work: treat the overview as a starting point, not the answer. For anything health, legal or financial, open at least one of the linked sources before you act on it.
How to report a bad answer
At the bottom of each overview there's a thumbs up and a thumbs down. If the answer was wrong, biased or otherwise problematic, click thumbs down, then Report a problem and pick the category that fits. You can add more detail in the text box, which Google recommends, then click Submit. You can also reach feedback from the three-dot menu at the top right of each overview.
Know what you're sending: Google says your feedback includes your most recent search and its results. It also says it uses people's interactions with Search and these AI features, including searches and feedback, to improve generative AI in Search, and that trained reviewers see data disconnected from user accounts.
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Going deeper in AI Mode
If you like an overview and want to keep going, you can move from it into a conversation in AI Mode. On mobile, Google says this works in all regions and languages where both AI Overviews and AI Mode are supported. Select Show more at the bottom of the overview, then type your follow-up in the Ask anything bar. The context from your first search carries over, so you don't start again. To get back to your normal results page with the overview on your phone, you can long press and swipe inward from either side of the screen. My guide on how to use Google AI Mode walks through what happens from there.
If you run a website
Everything above is the reader side. If you're a business owner wondering how your own pages end up cited in these summaries, that's a different job. Start with how to appear in Google AI Overviews.
My verdict
I'd stop hunting for an off switch, because Google says there isn't one, and the Labs toggle only covers experiments. If the summaries get in your way, use the Web filter for the searches where you want plain links. If you find them handy, use them as a quick map, click through to the sources, and press thumbs down when they get something wrong. That feedback is the one lever readers have.
Frequently asked questions
Can you turn off Google AI Overviews?
No. Google says AI Overviews are a core Search feature, like knowledge panels, and features can't be turned off. You can select the Web filter after searching to see only text-based links.
Does turning off AI in Search in Labs remove AI Overviews?
No. Turning off AI in Search in Labs opts you out of Google's AI experiments. It doesn't remove the core AI Overview from results.
Are Google AI Overviews accurate?
Google says AI responses may include mistakes. It advises checking important information in more than one place and clicking the supporting links.
How do I report a wrong AI Overview?
Click the thumbs down at the bottom of the overview, choose Report a problem, pick a category, add detail if you want and click Submit.
Can I ask follow-up questions on an AI Overview?
Yes. Select Show more at the bottom of the overview and type into the Ask anything bar to continue in AI Mode, with your original search context carried over.
