What the Bing AI Search Choice Extension Does
The Bing AI Search Choice extension is a browser add-on for Chrome and Edge that lets you disable Bing Copilot answers and return to traditional link-based search results with a single click, while still allowing you to re-enable AI responses whenever you want. Microsoft created this tool for people who prefer standard web pages over AI-generated summaries but still use Bing. When the extension is active, Copilot-style panels and chat-like responses are suppressed so classic blue links stay in focus. According to Microsoft’s Jordi Ribas, “AI is doing powerful things for search, but research tells us that not everyone wants to use AI for everything all the time.” The extension also sets Bing as your default search engine and opens Bing on new tabs, turning a user control for AI into a consistent Bing search lane.
How to Install the Bing AI Search Extension in Chrome
To turn off Copilot answers in Google Chrome, start by opening the Chrome Web Store and searching for the Bing AI Search Choice preview extension, or follow Microsoft’s official Chrome link. Click Add to Chrome, then confirm by selecting Add extension in the pop-up dialog. Once installed, Chrome will display the new Bing icon in the toolbar. Click that icon to open the extension’s panel and confirm that you want Bing set as your default search engine and new-tab page; this is part of how the extension works. After you accept, the extension will begin suppressing Copilot-style AI summaries whenever you search with Bing in Chrome. You can toggle AI answers on or off from the extension button at any time, giving you quick control over when you see AI-generated content during Bing searches.
How to Install the Extension in Microsoft Edge
In Microsoft Edge, the process to disable Bing Copilot answers with the extension is similar but runs through the Edge Add-ons store. Open Edge, go to the Add-ons store, and search for Bing AI Search Choice or follow Microsoft’s Edge extension link. Click Get, then Add extension to install it. Edge will place the Bing extension icon near the address bar; pin it if you want quick access. On first launch, you’ll be asked to allow Bing as your default search engine and to open Bing on new tabs. Approving this change activates the lower-AI search mode in Edge. From then on, Bing search results will avoid Copilot-style summaries unless you toggle AI back on. This setup keeps Bing at the center of your browsing while giving you a reliable way to turn off Copilot answers whenever you prefer classic search results.
Using Bing Without the Extension: The -ai Query Trick
If you do not want to install any software, you can still disable Bing Copilot answers on demand using a query parameter. Microsoft allows you to append “-ai” to the end of any Bing search to suppress AI-generated responses for that search only. For example, instead of searching for weather forecast, you would type weather forecast -ai. The core results remain, but Copilot-style summaries and AI panels are removed. This method is useful when you prefer a lighter, link-first page for topics where you do not need AI help, while keeping full Copilot features available for other queries. It also lets you test a lower-AI Bing experience before committing to the extension. You can use the -ai operator in any browser where you access Bing, so the control follows your habits without changing browser defaults.
Why Microsoft Is Giving Users an AI Off Switch
The new Bing AI Search Choice preview is part of a broader shift toward giving users more control over AI in search. Microsoft built Copilot deeply into Bing, but user feedback showed that some people want a straightforward list of links without summaries. According to WinBuzzer, the extension acts as both an AI toggle and a search placement tool, because it requires Bing as the default search engine and new-tab page. That trade-off lets Microsoft keep Bing in view for users who might otherwise move to lower-AI search providers such as DuckDuckGo, which has seen more interest as AI-heavy search expands. The extension also serves as a test: if enough people use it, Microsoft can decide whether to integrate a permanent, built-in switch to disable Bing Copilot directly in the search interface instead of relying on browser add-ons.
