How to disable AI in Google Docs
▼ Summary
– A Google Docs user encountered a persistent “write with Gemini” pop-up that could not be easily dismissed, causing frustration.
– To remove the AI box from the bottom of the screen, click “Gemini” in the top menu, then select “bottom bar preferences” and turn off the bottom bar.
– Asking Gemini to remove itself via the “Ask something else” feature only closed the conversation, not the AI pop-up.
– Users can disable all Google Workspace smart features, including Gemini pop-ups, by navigating to Gmail Settings > “See all settings” > “Google Workspace smart features” and toggling off the first option.
– This method also allows users to disable other smart features, such as automatic calendar events from Gmail.
I opened a Google Doc the other day, ready to write. Instead of a blank page, I was greeted by a flashy text box inviting me to “write with Gemini.” I scanned the screen for a way to dismiss it, but found nothing. It infuriated me.
So instead of the article I was supposed to be working on, I spent my time figuring out how to banish those AI pop-ups from your Google Docs. You’re welcome.
The first fix is simple. Click “Gemini” on the top menu bar above your document. From the drop-down menu, select “bottom bar preferences.” There, you can toggle off that bottom bar, removing the AI box from your screen.
Full confession: I was so annoyed when I went hunting for “bottom bar preferences” that I completely missed it. Instead, I clicked “Ask something else” and asked Gemini to help me remove itself from my life. AI may lack human emotion, but Gemini seemed to have a survival instinct. It told me to click the “X” icon. That does not remove Gemini. It just closes the conversation , the one where I was asking it how to turn itself off. Suspicious, right?
Other frustrated Google Docs users have reported features I haven’t encountered yet, like a “help me write” prompt that hovers over your cursor. That sounds deeply irritating, so it’s worth nipping it in the bud before it appears. Benjamin Franklin once said, “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.” He was talking about fire safety. I am talking about product design.
Rather than playing Whac-A-Mole with each individual AI feature, you can disable “smart features” across your entire Google workspace through Gmail.
First, go to your Gmail inbox. Click the gear icon for Settings, then at the top of the menu, click “See all settings.” (While you’re there, pick a fun inbox theme. A little whimsy won’t hurt.) Scroll about halfway down the page to find “Google Workspace smart features,” then click “Manage Workspace smart feature settings.”
You’ll see two options: one to toggle off smart features in Google Workspace (like those Gemini pop-ups), and another for other smart features (which I find less annoying). I only turned off the first one. If you hate when Gmail automatically creates calendar events for your flights, this is where you fix that too.
You should now be free from those irritating Gemini pop-ups that disrupt your writing flow. Rest easy.
(Source: TechCrunch)
