Google Search users looking to turn off persistent generative AI (SGE) features despite opting out

I’m not a fan of Google Search generative AI features, also known as SGE (Search Generative Experiment), for well documented reasons, and I’m glad to see more like-minded people cropping up.

A quick look into the official Google community forum reveals that the Search Generative Experience (SGE) has ignited a firestorm of criticism from users. While some may find the AI-generated summaries convenient, SGE is raising serious concerns about content theft, user choice, and Google’s growing disregard for its user base.

The core problem lies in its tendency to scrape information from existing websites and present it as a complete answer within Google Search results. This practice undermines the websites that create original content, potentially depriving them of the traffic they rely on for visibility and revenue. Furthermore, some users find SGE to be a frustrating barrier. Those who value in-depth information, diverse perspectives, or the specific expertise found on niche websites are left with a shallow AI-generated summary, unable to easily access the original source.

Initially, SGE was an optional experiment within Google’s Search Labs. However, a recent aggressive rollout has forced the feature on all users, regardless of their prior interest. This has led to a flood of complaints from people desperately seeking a way to completely turn off SGE, only to find that Google offers no such option.

Sure, a Google product expert claims that the issue is being investigated, but it rings hollow. If anything, it appears that Google is deliberately pushing SGE onto users, demonstrating a troubling pattern of prioritizing its own features over respecting user preferences. This behavior further erodes trust in a company that already wields immense power in the online space.

We’ve informed the concerned team & they are looking into it the matter. We will use this thread as the primary thread to share any updates we have on the matter. As soon as we have news, or the issue is fixed, I’ll remove it.

As SGE controversies escalate, it remains to be seen whether Google will take steps to address the harm its AI experiment causes to content creators. Will users be given the basic right to opt out of intrusive features? Or will Google continue its path of bulldozing user choice in the pursuit of AI dominance? Time will tell.

Meanwhile, let us know your experience with Google Search generative AI features in the comments.