Ask HN: How to get rid of Gemini?

Hacker News Discussion ↗

Perceived Intrusiveness of Gemini and AI Features

  • Some users report Gemini/AI being pushed aggressively across Google products: Search (AI Overviews), Workspace (Docs, Gmail, Drive “Catch Me Up”, Chat), often enabled multiple times or bypassing settings.
  • Others, especially on certain Android devices or personal accounts, say they rarely see it unless they explicitly use Gemini.
  • Behavior appears to vary by device (Pixel vs Samsung), account type (Workspace vs personal), and possibly region, but details are unclear.

Search and AI Overviews

  • AI Overviews at the top of Google Search are a major pain point; they appear even when logged out.
  • Workarounds mentioned:
    • Add udm=14 or use the “Web” tab to get classic “10 blue links”.
    • Append filters like -ai or a nonsense negative keyword; using profanity (or excluding it) seems to suppress AI on some queries.
    • Use an extension or uBlock Origin (e.g., blocking .hdzaWe or AI blocklists) to hide AI elements.
    • Use command-line / no-JS search or Google/SerpStack APIs with a custom front-end.

Alternatives to Google Search and Services

  • Suggested search replacements: Kagi (paid, praised for quality), DuckDuckGo (with noai, html, or lite subdomains, or settings to disable AI), Ecosia, and bangs (!g etc.).
  • Mixed feedback: some find DDG/Ecosia inferior to Google, especially for local/business info; Google Maps and YouTube are seen as particularly hard to replace.

Workspace and Organizational Friction

  • Workspace admins describe being moved to Gemini-inclusive tiers with price hikes, confusing opt-out paths, and even region-limited availability within one organization.
  • Reported usage is low despite paying more; some would pay extra just to remove Gemini.
  • Alternatives like Proton’s suite, Microsoft Teams, or Zoho are tested but often found lacking, especially for Docs/Drive equivalents, SSO, browser management, and email deliverability.

Attitudes Toward AI and Google’s Strategy

  • Some see Gemini/Gemini 2.5 as very useful (e.g., via Kagi or direct chat) for summaries, action items, and project knowledge.
  • Others reject AI on principle, arguing it erodes skills and cognition: they prefer to read, research, and write themselves.
  • Many criticize Google for “enshittifying” products, forcing AI to monetize attention, and shipping low-quality AI Overviews that damage both the web and AI’s reputation.