AI Overview Remover: Bringing Back Clean, Classic Google Search Results
Over the past year, Google has rolled out AI Overviews, AI Mode, and Sponsored Results as part of its broader move toward generative AI-driven search experiences. While these features aim to make searches more intelligent and context-aware, not everyone finds them useful — or even desirable.
Many users (myself included) often prefer a cleaner, more direct view of results without extra layers of AI-generated summaries or ads integrated into the top of the page. That frustration led me to build my first Chrome extension: AI Overview Remover.
Why I Built It
Every time I searched for something, Google’s new AI Overview section took up a large portion of the screen, summarizing pages I wanted to read for myself. Then came AI Mode, which expanded these summaries into full conversational responses. On top of that, sponsored results began appearing directly inside AI-generated snippets — blurring the line between organic insights and advertisements.
I wanted my search results back — plain and simple. Instead of switching browsers or altering URL filters manually, I decided to create a lighter, one-click solution. That became AI Overview Remover — a simple experiment that turned into something genuinely useful.
What the Extension Does
AI Overview Remover is designed to give users control over how they experience Google Search. It automatically hides:
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AI Overviews – the AI-generated summaries that dominate the top of search results.
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AI Mode – Google’s conversational search interface that blends AI-generated content and ads.
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Sponsored Results – paid ads that are increasingly embedded within AI-generated content.
Once installed, the extension instantly cleans up your search results, showing only traditional organic links and elements. You can toggle each feature depending on your preference — whether you want to keep AI summaries off entirely or just remove the sponsored content cluttering the view.
The goal is a search page that feels simple again — like it used to.
How It Works
The extension uses lightweight scripts to detect and hide specific Google Search elements associated with AI content, ensuring the page reloads quickly and remains functional.
Because different Google layouts and experiments may load these sections dynamically, the extension targets multiple selectors to ensure consistency across updates. It doesn’t track usage or collect any personal data — everything runs client-side in your browser.
Installation is straightforward:
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Visit the Chrome Web Store page: AI Overview Remover
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Click Add to Chrome
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Reload your Google Search tab and enjoy a clutter-free experience
Source code is fully available on GitHub:
https://github.com/akassama/ai-overview-remover
Why It Matters
Google’s AI-driven search shift has changed how users find information. With the rise of AI Overviews, even well-ranked websites can lose visibility as AI-generated answers take up most of the screen — reports suggest up to 67% of desktop space and 75% on mobile is occupied by these elements.
For everyday users, that means more scrolling, more noise, and sometimes less transparency about where information is coming from. The AI Overview Remover restores user choice — allowing you to decide what kind of search experience you prefer.
A Fun First Project
This was my first Chrome extension, built mainly out of curiosity and a desire to learn something new about browser extensions. It turned into a fun weekend project that quickly grew beyond its initial purpose once others started finding it useful too.
Building it gave me hands-on experience with Chrome’s extension APIs, content scripts, and event listeners, while reinforcing one key principle: simple ideas can make a big difference in everyday workflows.
Try It Yourself
If you’re someone who prefers traditional search results without distractions from AI answers or ads, give it a try:
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Chrome Store: AI Overview Remover
No configuration required — just install and refresh your search page.
Final Thoughts
This small extension isn’t an anti-AI statement. It’s about choice. For those who value simplicity and want control over what appears in their search results, AI Overview Remover offers exactly that — a clean, distraction-free web experience.
Whether you love AI or prefer traditional search, it’s nice to have options again.
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