By clicking a retailer link you consent to third-party cookies that track your onward journey. This enables W? to receive an affiliate commission if you make a purchase, which supports our mission to be the UK's consumer champion.
With over a decade of experience at Which?, Tom covers everything from tech advice to money-saving tips, and highlights the best deals during major sales events.
You might have noticed AI features appearing in more of the apps and services you use every day. Open Word, search Google or check WhatsApp and there's a good chance you'll spot it somewhere on the screen.
But while these tools can save you time or make certain tasks easier, you might not want them taking up room in familiar apps, handling your information or simply getting in the way of features you're already comfortable using.
Below, we explain how to cut down on AI across apps and services, including Microsoft Office, where our Tech Support experts regularly hear from members who want to remove Copilot.
Our friendly team can help you fix tech issues, stay safe online, and get more from your devices. Get 12 months of tech support and buying advice for only £24.50. We’ll help you take control of your tech.
Join Which? Tech SupportSave 50% - was £49, now £24.50. Offer ends 31 October 2026
Already a Tech Support member? For more help and 1-2-1 technical advice, including advice on malware and scams, go to our Tech Support online booking tool.
'I’ve just purchased a new laptop, and I am inundated with AI everywhere I go. I don’t want anything to do with AI. How can I remove it?'
Which? Tech Support member
If you're using Windows 11, you'll probably have spotted Copilot, Microsoft's AI assistant. Depending on your PC and version of Windows, you may see it as an app or shortcut, while other AI-powered features are built into parts of the operating system.
Assuming you don't want to use Copilot, you can remove the app from your computer:
On compatible Copilot+ PCs, Windows 11 also includes an AI-powered feature called Recall – it can save snapshots of your activity so you can find things you've previously seen on your computer. It's switched off unless you choose to turn it on when setting up your PC, but it's easy to agree without realising what it does.
If you've turned Recall on and want to switch it off, try this:
I assume this could default to being on (or at least talk you into it during setup, without you realising what you're signing up for) so there's potential inadvertent data giveaway.
If you've opened Word recently and wondered where all the Copilot buttons came from, you're not alone. Conor Houlihan, Which? Tech Support adviser, says Copilot in Microsoft Office apps is by far the AI feature members most often ask him how to remove.
Thankfully, when using Microsoft 365 with a personal Microsoft account, you can switch Copilot off in the desktop versions of Word, Excel and PowerPoint:
You'll need to repeat those steps in each app, so turning off Copilot in Word won't automatically get rid of it in Excel or PowerPoint. The setting only applies to the device you're using, too.
When signed in with a work or school account, you might not see the Copilot option at all. The controls available to you depend on your organisation's Microsoft 365 setup.
Copilot also appears in Outlook, where it can summarise email threads, draft messages and offer suggestions while you're writing.
You can switch it off without digging too deeply into Outlook's settings. Open Settings, select Copilot, then switch off Turn on Copilot. You can return to the same menu if you change your mind later.
Google's AI features in Gmail, such as summaries and help writing emails, are controlled through its Workspace smart feature settings. Switching these off stops Gemini working in Gmail, as well as in Drive, Chat and Meet.
However, note that you'll also lose other features that rely on the same setting, such as flights and events from your emails appearing automatically in Google Calendar.
On a computer, try this:
Siri existed well before Apple Intelligence, but the latest version of the assistant can tap into Apple's generative AI technology.
If you have a compatible iPhone, iPad or Mac, you'll also find AI features elsewhere, from writing tools to notification summaries. How you switch them off depends on your device and software version. On an iPhone, check yours under Settings > General > About > iOS Version, then follow the steps below.
Standalone AI apps from Apple's App Store can be removed in a few taps. Press and hold the app's icon, then choose Remove App.
On an Android phone, there's a good chance Gemini is your AI assistant. You can wake Gemini up by saying 'Hey Google' or using a shortcut such as holding down the power button.
If you'd rather not have an AI assistant at all, you can remove it as the default:
The wording can vary depending on your phone, so search Settings for 'assistant' if you can't find it. You might see Google listed rather than Gemini, as the Google app powers the assistant.
You can also stop Gemini popping up unexpectedly. In the Gemini app, tap your profile picture > Settings > Talk to Gemini hands-free to switch off 'Hey Google'. From Gemini settings, you can also tap Gemini on lock screen to stop it working while your phone is locked.
If you've downloaded an AI app such as ChatGPT or Copilot from the Google Play Store, you can uninstall it like any other app by pressing and holding its icon, then tapping Uninstall.
On many Samsung Galaxy phones, you'll also find Samsung's own AI tools, known as Galaxy AI, alongside Gemini. These include features such as Writing Assist, Photo Assist and Live Translate for phone calls. There's no single switch to turn them all off, but Samsung gathers most of them in one place.
Open Settings > Galaxy AI, then tap each feature and switch it off. On some models, you might find these under Settings > Advanced features > Advanced intelligence instead.
No, not really. Meta AI is deeply embedded in WhatsApp, Facebook, Instagram and Messenger, so there's no master switch to remove it completely. We even asked the AI itself while researching this article, but it couldn't offer us an escape route.
You can, however, ignore the assistant in search and chats. If you've already started a conversation with Meta AI, open or long-press the chat to find options to delete or mute it.
WhatsApp does offer one extra control. To stop people using Meta AI in a particular chat, tap the chat name at the top of the screen, then Restricted chat (Advanced chat privacy on older versions of the app) and switch it on. This also stops people from exporting the chat, automatically saving its photos and videos or using linked devices to access it.
To avoid your conversations and personal information being used by the likes of ChatGPT, Copilot and Gemini, see how to stop AI chatbots from using your data.
Run a Google search on desktop or mobile and you might spot an AI Overview above the usual list of websites and sponsored listings. Unfortunately, Google doesn't let you switch AI Overviews off completely.
Instead, you can avoid an AI Overview for an individual search by selecting Web. On desktop, you'll find this under the More dropdown. On mobile, look for Web in the row of filters underneath the search box. This gives you a more traditional list of links, although you'll need to select the filter again for each new search.
You may also see AI Mode or a box that says Ask anything, which gives you a more chatbot-style version of Google Search. You don't have to use either feature, so you can simply scroll past.
Our friendly team can help you fix tech issues, stay safe online, and get more from your devices. Get 12 months of tech support and buying advice for only £24.50. We’ll help you take control of your tech.
Join Which? Tech SupportSave 50% - was £49, now £24.50. Offer ends 31 October 2026
Which? Tech Support can help you keep on top of your home tech. Our experts explain things clearly so that you can resolve issues and feel more confident using your devices.
Get unlimited 1-2-1 expert support:
Join Which? Tech Support.
