This page is a working document and will continue to be updated as I am able to outline instructions for disabling AI integrations that I come across.
I’m doing what I can to block or at least limit the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in the apps, websites, and software that I use due to its ethical and environmental implications. This is my way of sharing some of the AI-disabling methods I’ve figured out in case anyone else is looking to do the same.
Avoiding online surveillance is becoming more and more difficult; sometimes it feels impossible. I hope this can serve as a resource for others who are as frustrated as I am with how every platform imaginable is integrating intrusive practices using AI that only increase how much we are surveilled within the online platforms and apps that we use.
Adobe
Disabling AI Features in Specific Adobe Applications (California Learning Resources Network)
Turn off generative AI features (Adobe)
DuckDuckGo
- Go to the three dots in the top right corner of the screen
- Go to “Settings”
- In the left sidebar, go to “AI Features”
- Uncheck the options under Duck.ai Shortcuts
Google Workspace & Apps
- Log in to Gmail
- Select the gear icon in the top right to open the Settings panel
- Select “See all settings”
- In the General tab:
- Under “Smart features”
- Uncheck “Turn on smart features in Gmail, Chat, and Meet”
- Select “Turn off and reload”
- Under “Google Workspace smart features”
- Select “Manage Workspace smart feature settings”
- Toggle off “Smart features in Workspace”
- Toggle off “Smart features in other Google products”
- Select Save
- Log in to your Google Account
- Select Security in the left menu
- Under “Enhanced Safe Browsing for your account”
- Select “Manage Enhanced Safe Browsing”
- Switch the toggle off
- Select “Turn off”
- Toggle will be grey instead of blue
- Log in to your Google Account
- Select Security in the left menu
- Go to “Personalized ads”
- Select “My Ad Center”
- Under “Personalized ads”
- Switch the dropdown option to “Off”
- Select “Turn off” and “Got it”
- Dropdown option will be grey instead of blue and will say “Off”
- Log in to your Google Account
- Select Data & privacy in the left menu
- Under “Search personalization”
- Turn off the toggle for “Personalized Search”
- Toggle will be grey instead of blue
Meta (Facebook, Instagram & Threads)
- Log in to Facebook
- Click or tap on your profile picture in the menu bar
- Go to “Settings & Privacy” and then “Settings”
- Under Audience and visibility, open “Posts”
- Toggle off “Allow comment summaries on your posts”
- Toggle off “Allow visual search on your posts”
- Toggles will be grey instead of blue
- Log in to Facebook
- Click or tap on your profile picture in the menu bar
- Go to “Settings & Privacy” and then “Settings”
- In the Meta Accounts Center box on the left, click or tap the “See more in Accounts Center” link
- Under Account settings
- Go to “Your Information and permissions”
- Go to “Your activity off Meta technologies”
- Go to “Manage future activity”
- Select “Disconnect future activity”
- You may be prompted to enter your Facebook password
- Log in to Facebook
- Click or tap on your profile picture in the menu bar
- Go to “Settings & Privacy” and then “Settings”
- In the Meta Accounts Center box on the left, click or tap the “See more in Accounts Center” link
- Under Account settings
- Go to “Ad preferences”
- Go to “Manage info”
- Go into each section to adjust your settings by turning off ad tracking activity as much as you can
Microsoft Outlook
- In the main menu bar, go to “Settings” to open the Outlook Settings panel
- Under Email, open “Copilot”
- Toggle off “Turn on Copilot”
- Toggle will be grey instead of orange
- In the top left corner, tap on your user icon
- In the bottom left corner, tap on the gear icon to open the Outlook Settings panel
- Under Quick Settings
- Go to “Copilot”
- Toggle off “Turn on Copilot”
- Toggle will be grey instead of orange
Mozilla Firefox
- Go to the three bars in the top right corner of the screen
- Go to “Settings”
- In the General section
- Uncheck “Use AI to suggest tabs and a name for tab groups”
