Full Breakdown
How to Hide Google’s AI-Generated Search Overviews
By Drooid · · How we work
In this breakdown
01
Why the AI Overview Appears
Google’s “AI Overviews” place a concise, AI-generated answer at the top of search results, summarizing information without requiring a click. The feature has become the default presentation for many queries, reducing the visibility of traditional web links and, according to the PCMag guide, “decimating web traffic for publishers” while also containing factual errors.
02
Simple Query Modifier
One of the quickest ways to suppress the AI panel is to add the NOT operator `-AI` (or any random string such as `-i` or `-efewg`) to the end of a search query. In testing, this modifier breaks Google’s algorithm that surfaces the AI overlay, causing the results page to revert to standard listings.
03
Using the Built-In Web Filter
Google also offers a “Web” filter that can be accessed beneath the search bar or via the “More” menu. Selecting this filter removes the AI Overview for that specific search. The filter limits results to web links only; multimedia previews such as YouTube videos and image snippets are omitted. Because the setting is not saved as a default, users must activate it for each new search.
04
URL Parameter and Proxy Options
Appending the parameter `&udm=14` to the search URL signals Google to display only web links, effectively disabling the AI panel. For users who prefer a less manual approach, the proxy site udm14.com provides a ready-made search bar that automatically includes the parameter. The guide warns that proxy services can read queries, so users should weigh privacy concerns.
Custom Search Engine Setup
The article outlines how to create a custom search engine in Chrome or Firefox that incorporates the `&udm=14` parameter. By adding a new entry (e.g., “Google Web”) with the URL template `{google:baseURL}search?q=%s&udm=14` and setting it as the default, searches from the browser will consistently omit AI Overviews. The same method works on Android and desktop, though it also excludes multimedia links, which can be accessed by switching to the “Videos,” “News,” or “All” tabs when needed.
05
Trade-offs
All of these workarounds remove the AI-generated summary but also eliminate certain content types, such as video previews and image results. Users must decide whether the cleaner, link-focused view outweighs the loss of integrated multimedia information.