On November 11, 2026, Microsoft gave Bing search users on the web two ways to turn off AI-generated answers. One is a browser extension called Microsoft Bing AI Search Choice for Chrome and Edge, which Microsoft labels a preview. The other is a search trick: add -ai to the end of your query, and that search returns results without AI-generated answers. Microsoft explained the change in a Bing Search Blog post, and Windows Central covered the extension soon after.
If you just want plain blue links and snippets, you now have an official way to get them back.
What Happened: Microsoft’s New Bing AI Off Switch
Microsoft released two separate tools that work in different ways:
- The Extension: Microsoft Bing AI Search Choice works in Google Chrome and Microsoft Edge and is currently in preview, so Microsoft says it may change based on feedback. It adds a toggle that turns Bing’s AI-generated answers on or off. Your choice carries over to future searches, so you set it once.
- The Trade-off: Installing the extension also sets Bing as your default search engine, and its Chrome Web Store listing says it opens Bing on every new tab.
- The Search Operator: Type
-aiat the end of any Bing query to get results without AI-generated answers for that search. Nothing to install.
According to Windows Central, Microsoft framed the move around user choice, giving searchers more say over whether AI gets involved in each session.
None of this came out of nowhere. Microsoft had previously tested a preview extension for toggling Bing’s Copilot answers, as Windows Central reported.
Who This Affects
This matters most if you search Bing using Chrome or Edge, where the extension is available. The -ai operator is part of the query itself, so it works anywhere you can type into Bing’s search box.
Both tools give you a way to turn AI-generated answers off when you want to.
How It Stacks Up
The two tools both let you turn off AI-generated answers, but they work on different timescales. The extension is more like a light switch, while the -ai operator is more like holding your hand over a lamp: one stays put, the other lasts only for that search.
| Tool | What it turns off | How long it lasts | Install needed? | Where it works |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Microsoft Bing AI Search Choice | AI-generated answers (toggle on or off) | Applies to future searches | Yes, extension | Chrome, Edge |
-ai at end of query | AI-generated answer for that search | One search only | No | Bing search box |
Source: Windows Central and the Bing Search Blog.
The Reaction
Microsoft itself framed the tools as a matter of choice. Its blog post says that being able to turn AI answers off “isn’t a step back from AI” but “a step toward putting you in charge of how you use it,” and it asks users to send feedback on the preview extension.
Windows Central read the release as Microsoft acknowledging that some people don’t want AI in search. A question worth watching is whether hiding AI answers changes which sites get cited and clicked. We’ll update this section if clear, sourceable reaction surfaces.
What to Do Next
Try -ai first. It costs nothing, installs nothing, and shows you within seconds whether you like Bing better without the AI summary. If you keep typing it on every search (and you will get tired of that fast), grab the extension instead.
Our Take
Who should care? Anyone who searches Bing and finds AI-generated answers slow, cluttered, or off-target. The extension suits daily Bing users on Chrome or Edge who want AI answers switched off by default and don’t mind Bing taking over their default search and new tab page. The -ai trick suits occasional searchers who want AI help sometimes and plain links other times.
The honest catch is that Microsoft is handing you the off switch rather than building a version without AI from the start. Even so, it’s a fair admission that some people don’t want AI-first search, and that admission is more than you get from a lot of tech companies pushing AI into every corner of their apps.
Wrapping Up
If Bing’s AI answers keep getting between you and the link you wanted, you can now skip them. Add -ai for a one-off, or install Microsoft Bing AI Search Choice in Chrome or Edge to make it stick. Start with the free trick, and if you end up typing it every time, install the extension.