Google has added AI Overview to its search results for internet users in the US, making headlines for all the wrong reasons. Rather than seeing it as a useful service that makes the experience easier, they think about its potential for inaccuracy, its disastrous impact on publishers because it pushes their original content further down the search results page, and simply fact that it cannot be modified. off (actually they can turn it off with this extension). Meanwhile, those of us outside the United States are wondering what all the fuss is about. Here’s how you can find out by enabling AI Overview on your Android phone or iPhone outside the US, then turning it off if you don’t like it.
Google says its AI preview will be available to users outside the US later in 2024, but you don’t need to wait until then to try the AI preview in the UK. Uni or elsewhere. AI Overview, which Google says “simplifies search by providing an AI-generated snapshot with key insights and links to dig deeper,” is gradually rolling out to users in the U.S. whether they like it or not, but It is also an experimental feature available in Search Labs. This simple hack allows you to access it from anywhere, even in the United States, if you haven’t seen the new changes in your browser yet.
Before you get started, here are a few things you need:
- Be 18 years or older
- A Google account
- An Android device or iPhone with the latest version of Google, Chrome, Firefox or Safari
- A VPN you can trust
Note that this method of enabling AI Overview also works on a computer with the desktop version of Chrome, but we’re focusing on the mobile experience here. Our screenshots were taken using an Android phone.
If you’ve never used a VPN (virtual private network) before, know that it redirects your IP address, allowing you to browse the Internet as if you were in another country. For the purposes of this tutorial, your browser thinks you are in the United States. Note that the experimental AI Overview Search Lab feature is available in some countries and languages other than the US and English, but we specifically chose the US because that’s where Google has now rolled out the feature to everyone the users.
There are many VPN providers, but we recommend NordVPN due to its wide range of servers and competitive pricing, although a free trial is also available. You can find more options in our list of the best VPNs.
Technically, all you need to do to see the AI preview is turn on your VPN and start searching on Google “from USA”. However, in our testing this did not produce results and we also had to enable the Search Labs feature, as we detail below.
Keep in mind that even if AI Overview is enabled, not all search results will receive an AI Overview response. Google doesn’t specify the requirements, but says you’ll see one “when our systems determine that generative AI can be particularly useful – for example, when you want to quickly understand information from a range of sources.” When you first enable AI Overview, some will also offer examples of what these searches might look like.
How to Get a Preview of Google AI in Search
If you have checked all the boxes mentioned above, it is not too difficult to get answers to the presentation of AI in your search results.
- Install a VPN on your phone and set the location to United States.
- Open Chrome or another compatible browser and make sure you’re signed in to your Google account.
- Tap the Search Labs icon (it’s a lab flask) – if it doesn’t appear, search for “Search Labs” on Google and click on the first result.
- A large “Enable” button should appear for the AI preview. Tap on it and accept/refuse newsletter updates.
- Now go back to Google search and see if you get an AI presentation result. You’ll know because there’s an orange astroid icon with “AI Preview” next to it.
How to disable Google AI Overview answers in search results
If you don’t like AI Overview, it’s easy to turn it off (and US users can achieve the same effect with a Chrome extension). You can simply turn off your VPN to start seeing local results again, or you can turn off the AI Previews feature in Search Labs, as detailed below.
- Open your favorite app and make sure you’re signed in to your Google account.
- Tap the Search Labs icon and select “Manage”.
- Turn off the “AI Previews and More” option.
You might also be interested in the top 5 Samsung Galaxy AI features that will change the way you use your phone.
