AI News
06 Oct 2025
Read 16 min
How to turn off AI features and regain control fast
how to turn off AI features and reclaim privacy and storage on iPhone, Gmail, Windows, and Samsung
Why dial back AI now
Less noise, more control
AI tries to summarize your messages, your comments, and your notifications. It suggests replies and writes drafts. This can save time, but it can also add clutter and hide the context you need. Turning off some of these tools brings back clear lists, normal threads, and fewer pop-ups.Fewer errors and weird outputs
AI can get facts wrong. It can miss important points in an email thread. It can change tone in a way that does not fit you. You keep your voice and your accuracy when you write and reply yourself.Privacy and storage gains
Some features send content to the cloud to process. Others download large models to your device. Disabling them can reduce data sharing and free up space.How to turn off AI features on Apple devices
Apple now bundles many tools under Apple Intelligence. You can switch them off globally or choose what to disable.Turn off Apple Intelligence completely
– Open Settings > Apple Intelligence & Siri – Turn off the Apple Intelligence toggle This stops system-level AI features, including writing aids, image tools, and enriched notifications. If these components took space on your device, you may free up a noticeable amount of storage.Turn off AI in notifications
If you prefer simple alerts without summaries or priority sorting: – Open Settings > Notifications > Prioritize Notifications > Turn off – In the same menu, turn off Summarize Notifications You will see standard notifications again in the order they arrive.Disable AI image creation and writing tools
If you want to keep core features but block creative tools: – Open Settings > Screen Time – Tap Content & Privacy Restrictions and turn it on – Go to Intelligence & Siri – Turn off Image Creation – Turn off Writing Tools Note: You can still use normal dictation, editing, and non-AI features.Extra tips for iPhone
– Review app-level settings for Siri and Search to reduce suggestions. – Check Photos settings if you do not want AI-driven memories or highlights. – After updates, revisit Apple Intelligence settings; new toggles may appear.How to turn off AI features in Google Search and Gmail
Google pushes AI across Search and Workspace. You cannot remove every AI surface, but you can avoid the main ones.Banish AI Overviews from your results
Google’s AI Overviews add chatbot answers above the links. You cannot fully disable them, but you can get around them: – After you search, tap the Web tab near the top to see classic links only. If you do not see it, tap More and choose Web. – Save a bookmark that opens Google in Web mode, or use a helper like UDM14 to jump there by default. – Try a search engine that lets you set AI to off before you search, such as DuckDuckGo. This keeps your results clean and predictable.Turn off AI writing in Gmail (web)
You can stop AI from suggesting replies or finishing sentences: – Click the gear icon > See all settings – Turn off Smart Compose – Turn off Smart Compose Personalization – Turn off Smart Reply You can also turn off Smart Features to block more automated tools, but note this will also disable spelling and grammar checks. Most people prefer to keep basic checks on and only disable the AI suggestions.Google Docs and Slides
Docs and Slides include AI writing and image aids. Today, there is no master switch to remove these features. You can ignore the prompts and avoid clicking Help me write or image generation tools. If you use a work account, ask your admin if they can limit these features with policy settings.Meta: reduce AI on Facebook and Instagram
Meta’s AI shows up in search bars, chats, and content surfaces. You cannot turn it off across the apps, but you can stop AI summaries on your own Facebook posts.Disable AI comment summaries on Facebook
– Open the Menu (bottom right) > Settings & Privacy – Under Audiences and Visibility, tap Posts – Turn off Allow Comment Summaries on Your Posts Your friends’ comments will appear as they wrote them. You can also ignore AI chat prompts in Messenger and avoid tapping AI search suggestions in Instagram.How to turn off AI features in Microsoft Windows and Office
Microsoft’s Copilot sits in Windows and in Microsoft 365 apps like Word and Excel. You can hide, uninstall, or disable it, depending on your device.Unpin or hide Copilot in Windows 11
If you just want it out of sight: – Right-click the Copilot icon on the Taskbar or in Start – Click Unpin This removes quick access without changing system files.Uninstall Copilot on Windows 11 Home
On many Home PCs, removing the app is simple: – Open Start and type “Copilot” – Right-click Copilot > Uninstall – If you see Microsoft 365 Copilot in Apps, uninstall that too Note: Even if you remove the app, Copilot buttons can still appear inside Office apps. You must disable it inside each app as well.Disable Copilot in Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and more (PC)
– Open the app (for example, Word) – Go to File > Options > Copilot – Uncheck Enable Copilot – Click OK and restart the app Repeat for each Microsoft 365 app you use.Disable Copilot in Microsoft 365 on Mac
– Open the app (for example, Word) – Go to Preferences > Authoring and Proofing Tools > Copilot – Uncheck Enable Copilot – Click OK and restart the appAbout Windows 11 Pro and Copilot+ PCs
On Pro and Copilot+ systems, fully removing system-level Copilot often requires advanced configuration changes (for example, Group Policy or Registry edits). Most users should avoid that. Use Unpin and in-app disable methods instead. If this is a work device, your IT admin may control these settings.How to turn off AI features on Samsung Galaxy phones
Samsung bundles many tools under Galaxy AI, including writing aids, chat suggestions, and photo editing tools. The good news: the controls are in one place.Switch off Galaxy AI tools
– Open Settings > Galaxy AI – Tap the tool you want to change – Turn off the toggle You can disable message suggestions, image editing, live translation, and more. This brings your phone closer to a classic Android experience. Core camera processing and standard system features still work without the AI extras.What changes when you disable Galaxy AI
– You keep normal text input, camera, and editing functions. – You lose AI-generated edits, summaries, and auto-replies. – Your phone may feel simpler and faster in day-to-day use.Simple habits that keep AI out of your way
Make the clean web your default
– Bookmark Google’s Web tab view and use it for most searches. – Try a search engine that lets you set “no AI answers” by default.Keep notifications human
– Turn off AI summaries and priority sorting so you see alerts as they arrive. – Disable “suggested replies” in chat apps to avoid accidental AI responses.Manage writing and image tools
– If a document app shows AI prompts, ignore them and use standard tools. – In email, keep grammar and spell check, but disable predictive text if it distracts you.Watch for new toggles after updates
– Big updates often add AI features and new switches. – After each update, scan Settings for “Intelligence,” “AI,” “Copilot,” or “Labs.” – Reapply your preferences if defaults changed.Check if your device is managed
– Work or school devices may lock AI settings. – If you cannot change a toggle, ask your administrator for help or policy details.Time savings: do the quick wins first
If you only have five minutes, hit the controls that make the biggest difference fast: – Apple: Turn off Apple Intelligence, or at least switch off Summarize and Prioritize Notifications. – Google: Use the Web tab for search, then turn off Smart Compose and Smart Reply in Gmail. – Microsoft: Unpin Copilot from the Taskbar and disable it in Word and Excel. – Samsung: Open Settings > Galaxy AI and toggle off the tools you never use. – Meta: Turn off comment summaries on Facebook so people speak for themselves on your posts. These changes remove the most visible AI layers without breaking normal features.Troubleshooting and what to expect
AI keeps reappearing after updates
Major OS and app updates can re-enable AI switches. Revisit the same menus to turn them off again. Consider delaying auto-updates if you want to control timing.Buttons are still there, but AI is off
Some apps keep the Copilot or AI button even when the feature is disabled. That is normal. If the button does nothing or asks to enable AI, your setting is working.Storage did not shrink after disabling AI
Turning off AI stops features from running, but stored models may remain until a future cleanup or OS update. If storage is critical, back up your device and consider a fresh install, or wait for the system to reclaim space.Performance and battery
With fewer AI services running, your device may feel snappier and your battery may last longer. Results vary by model and your daily use. You do not have to accept every AI prompt that appears on your screen. A few quick settings can restore simple lists, clear search results, and human-style email. Use this guide whenever a new tool shows up, and you will always know how to turn off AI features without losing the basics you rely on. (Source: https://www.consumerreports.org/electronics/artificial-intelligence/turn-off-ai-tools-gemini-apple-intelligence-copilot-and-more-a1156421356/) For more news: Click HereFAQ
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