How to turn off Google’s AI Overviews—and reclaim search sanity

When searching for information online, two opposing realities are at play: AI chatbots have made it easier than ever to get answers, but the "AI Overview" answers at the top of Google search results are often inaccurate. The accuracy of AI-generated information can range from 10% to over 50%, depending on the subject. While this may seem acceptable, it's not. However, there's a simple solution to bypass these unreliable shortcuts and return to the traditional way of searching the web, free from AI and at no cost.

The fix was initially shared in the Cool Tools newsletter from The Intelligence. It's an easy, two-second process that strips away AI Overview, shopping boxes, info boxes, related news suggestions, and other distractions. To activate this workaround, visit UDM14. This website sends your search query to Google with a specific code that eliminates unwanted clutter and shows only standard web results. Alternatively, you can manually add "&udm=14" to the end of any Google search URL.

Another option is to use the 'Web' option located at the top of Google's result types menu. On a smartphone, scroll through the result types at the top of the screen and click 'Web.' On a computer, click 'More' within the result types line and then choose 'Web.' If you prefer a more advanced method, you can create a custom search engine on your desktop browser that automatically applies the parameter to every search.

Using UDM14 is the easiest way to achieve this, as it requires no downloads, installations, or sign-ins. It's free to use with only a small ad on its main page. This simple solution offers a refreshing, AI-free, and clutter-free search experience, allowing you to enjoy the benefits of unfiltered internet search for the first time in a long time.