Once I first thought of eradicating Google Search from my computing expertise years in the past, it appeared like a nightmare situation. How would I make certain that the alternate options I picked would offer the identical outcomes as Google Search? That they’d be simply as dependable?
It took some time till I began utilizing Google Search alternate options. I didn’t rip off the bandaid in a single easy movement. I first changed Google Search with DuckDuckGo on iPhone. Some time later, I did the identical factor on Mac. At first, I’d use Google Search and DuckDuckGo in parallel.
Then AI merchandise like ChatGPT and Perplexity arrived, they usually made it even simpler to wean myself off of Google Search.
Little did I do know my Google Search independence would repay so quickly. Google rolled out a Google Search improve after I/O 2024 that not many individuals are thrilled about. AI Overviews at the moment are a part of the default Google Search expertise. There are methods to get again to a standard Search expertise. After which there’s the “nuclear” resolution: Eliminating Google Search out of your searching habits.
I’m right here to let you know that no matter avenue you select will work nice for you, even when eradicating Google Search out of your ordinary internet searching conduct sounds scary.
Learn how to repair Google Search
There’s no actual challenge with providing AI ends in Google Search. Nevertheless it ought to be our selection. Google made it necessary after I/O, and that angered many individuals.
Moderately than ditching Google Search, there are methods to repair the AI Overview downside that Google created. First, you need to use Google’s personal repair. We’ve proven you use Google Search with the brand new Internet filter that reveals solely text-based hyperlinks in search outcomes.

The opposite resolution is utilizing a Chrome extension to dam Google AI Overviews in Search. The irony is robust with this one, as Chrome is a Google product whose important process is to make sure Google Search has a distinguished placement in your computer systems.
If Google Search is without doubt one of the apps you depend on to get issues completed however you hate AI outcomes, these are the fixes you may apply proper now. There’s no assure they’ll work perpetually, however they’ll repair your issues for now. Hopefully, Google will hear all of the damaging suggestions and repair the issue they created.
Google Search alternate options
However I’ll let you know that the web remains to be usable for those who resolve to ditch Google Search. You’ll nonetheless discover the stuff you’re on the lookout for whether or not you utilize AI merchandise or not. My go-to search engine is DuckDuckGo, however you need to use Bing and different alternate options. DuckDuckGo additionally works with Bing, and my ChatGPT searches additionally run by Bing.
Along with ChatGPT, I exploit Perplexity to look the online when conducting conversations with AI about subjects that require that individual back-and-forth expertise.
Due to this fact, my googling consists of a mixture of AI and conventional search, relying on what I would like. The important thing element right here is that I’m in command of utilizing AI.
I’ll additionally say that I exploit loads of different Google merchandise. It looks like I’m stealing them. Technically, Google apps are freed from use, however as a result of I don’t use Google Search as a lot, I’m not “paying” for them in full, as I’m not as uncovered to Google’s large ad-based money-making system.

Lastly, I’ll be aware that I’m not utterly off Google Search. For instance, I exploit Google Maps to seek for locations and companies, and that’s a Google Search expertise.
Additionally, I’d use Google Search in incognito mode if I really feel like I’m not discovering one thing I usually would. One other different could be Microsoft’s server crashing and taking down Bing, DuckDuckGo, ChatGPT search, and every part else that may run there.
That’s, I’m not utterly off Google Search. However its presence is lowered to such a level that AI Overviews aren’t an issue. On that be aware, I’ll additionally say that I haven’t seen AI Overviews in Europe but. Due to this fact, I’m already considerably shielded from them. However they’ll be rolling out all over the place earlier than the top of the yr.
Additionally, AI Overviews will get adverts, which could additional complicate one’s relationship with Google Search.
What I’m getting is that no matter occurs with Google’s AI in Search can have a minimal impression on my internet search expertise now that I’ve ditched Google Search. And I don’t miss it in any respect.