For Avoiding GenAI

Disclaimer: This page is a STARTING POINT, not a comprehensive resource, and is designed for those who choose to avoid GenAI/LLMs. If avoiding GenAI is a requirement for you, whether legally or for professional reasons such as the new SFWA rules, you should do your own research and perhaps consult an expert in the field or an attorney. Also, given how fast this field is changing, I can’t guarantee any of the details are 100% accurate. Again, this is a STARTING POINT! Not a comprehensive resource.

Last updated: February 25, 2026

It’s here! It’s there! It’s everywhere! GenAI! (Apologies to Roy Kent)

A few points:

  • I use the term GenAI (generative AI) rather than AI. AI is a BS marketing term.
  • AI doesn’t always equal LLM. Generative AI usually equals LLM.
  • AI pursuits in medicine and other specialities are life-saving technologies which aren’t recommending rocks on pizza.
  • It appears most platforms are still separating AI and GenAI when both are attached. For example, Microsoft makes it clear their grammar checker uses AI but not GenAI. Still, any platform can throw that switch.

Was AI used for this document? Yes, when general searches did not produce expected results, I queried AI platforms. Often, this would be Gemini for Google settings and Copilot for Microsoft/Edge/Bing settings. Sometimes more globally. It’s also telling how often platforms weren’t able to sort through their own company’s support documents.

On Computers and Devices

Apple MacOS/iOS/iPadOS

  • Go to System Settings, click Apple Intelligence & Siri, then click the button next to Apple Intelligence. Link (info at bottom of page)
  • Does my Apple device include Apple Intelligence? Visit the Apple Intelligence page and reference multicolor list near the bottom. Only included devices support Apple Intelligence.

Microsoft Windows 11

How to disable Copilot in Windows 11 (Tom’s Hardware)

Android

*I don’t use Android or have any devices to test. I hope these work for Android owners.*

Switch Gemini to Google Assistant (Google Support)

New to Galaxy Phone? Here’s How to Tone Down or Disable AI Completely on your Phone (CNET)

In Browsers

I have neither the time nor knowledge to recommend browser extensions. Most are safe, but privacy bypass settings can allow third-parties to spy on your web traffic or keyboard inputs, including grabbing passwords and bank data. The resources below do not require browser extensions.

tenbluelinks.org – Chrome on Android, iOS, Windows, MacOS and Firefox on Windows and MacOS

  • How it works: For mobile browsers that don’t allow to edit the list of custom search engines we use OpenSearch. It’s a simple XML file that is instructing your browser to add URL parameter udm=14 to all Google Searches. The file is referenced in the <head> section of this page. You can see the source of this page and download the OpenSearch file to check for yourself.

    This website and it’s author will NOT be able to see your search history or any other information you type in Google.

justthebrowser.com – Works on all major browsers.

  • How it works: “Just the Browser uses group policies that are fully supported by web browsers, usually intended for IT departments in companies or other large organizations. No applications or executable files are modified in any way.”

Safari on MacOS and iOS: As far as I can tell, only a handful of extensions can assist. I cannot recommend any of those.

Chrome: Stop the slop by disabling AI features in Chrome (The Register)

Firefox: Disable AI In Firefox (Flamed Fury) – Appears there is a master switch through browser.ml.enable, plus a list of individual features which can be toggled off.
-But, Firefox is adding more AI features. Reports claim these will be optional, but enabled by default: https://www.macrumors.com/2026/02/02/firefox-ai-toggle/

Edge: How to Remove Copilot AI from Windows and Microsoft Edge (Ask Dave Taylor)

Brave: Disable Brave Leo (Brave support)

Search Engines

Google: As far as I can tell, Gemini cannot be turned off through Google settings. Block at the browser level (see below).

Bing: It doesn’t appear possible to completely disable Copilot from Bing searches. You can turn off a few features.

DuckDuckGo: Opting Out of DuckDuckGo AI Features (DuckDuckGo support)

Research Tools

There are many new research tools which proudly declare their use of AI or mention terms like LLM-based or LLM-driven. I do not know if the training for these systems used IP involved in ongoing lawsuits such as those brought by authors and artists, but the question for creatives is whether using these for research might have future consequences.

JSTOR
Kudos for listing the platforms their chat interface uses, which includes ChatGPT and an open-source LLM.

  • Introduction and overview
  • From the introduction page: Individual users can also turn off the tool within their own interface by toggling visibility on JSTOR item pages.
    • Above the top-right corner of the AI Research Tool interface is a toggle. If you toggle this to OFF, this will turn off the feature.
    • The setting is persistent across each account. If you have multiple JSTOR accounts, you will need to repeat this for each account.

Consensus

Elicit

Filtering GenAI Content from Media Searches

I wish you luck making this work well. Be aware some GenAI creatores do not want their work identified as such. Also, corporations involved with GenAI development want generated mateiral accepted as mainstream. In my recent experience, this has meant more “slop” results even when filtered. My point is, don’t trust any image to NOT be generated until you complete your due diligence, which should include researching where the image first appeared, the medium of the artist, etc…

How to trace a picture’s origin with reverse image search (Engadget)

Google Images / Bing Images: Add “-ai” after your search terms.

Pinterest: See fewer AI pins (Pinterest Help)

DeviantArt: How can I adjust my settings to show or suppress AI art? (DeviantArt support)

Adobe Stock Images: This proved tricky because none of the support documents explain how to turn off GenAI results. They do have instructions for submitting AI generated images.

  • On the image search page, click the settings drop down next to the search button. Toggle on the Exclude GenAI Content button under Filters.

Others: For most of the other well-known images sites, I either couldn’t find a setting or the recommended “-ai” URL addition didn’t return a noticeable difference. Your mileage may vary.

In Writing Tools

The recent SFWA awards flip-flop (Gizmodo coverage) left me wondering how many writers understand which tools include LLMs. This is also where I’m most concerned about providing faulty information. So all I’m including below are links directly into each platform’s documentation and quotes from the same. If something isn’t included, I couldn’t find it at the time.

My warning to writers is to choose a platform and keep an eye on features changes. I suspect coding changes are viewed as more resource (hour and money) intensive than using an LLM they’re already developing, which means a change could happen at any time for increased profits. I’m not sold every platform will broadcast those changes if it might lose customers.

And my hope is these writing-focused platforms will continue to support tools and features which do not require GenAI/LLM-based features.

Microsoft Office

Google Docs

Apple Pages

ProWritingAid

Grammarly

Research Tools

Organization tools

Also be aware many organization tools utilize LLM technology for organization and note-taking.

GenAI Platform Controls

If you have used GenAI platforms in the past and wish to delete those accounts, instructions for personal accounts are listed below. Work-related or API accounts appear to require different instructions. And might not be possible in some cases.

Deleting chats and accounts may impact other content and services such as connected documents and “vibed” programs. Double check before deleting anything.

ChatGPT

Gemini

Copilot

Perplexity AI

Blocking GenAI From Training on your Content

Weblogs and websites

If you don’t want GenAI training on your website content, there are methods to limit access. Unfortunately, this appears a bit of an arms race going into 2026. These methods will change quickly over time, so prepare to remain informed and ready to make changes as required.

Social media accounts

I did not vet all of these instructions because I’m on few social media platforms. But there is enough detail to help you find current instructions if your social media platform is listed.

Understanding GenAI/LLMs

If you made it this far, here are some links which might interest you.

Terms:

What are generative AIs and LLMs?

GenAI and Children

Resource Usage

Am I anti-AI? Am I trying to stop people from using AI?

My career has focused on assisting higher ed faculty, staff and students navigate, trial, and use a massive range of technologies, many at a time they were considered ‘frontier’. If analysis is true, GenAI has experienced faster adoption than any technology in history. There has also been a massive backlash from various groups, but especially creatives.

My role has always been supporting research, which is the middle-ground I’m continuing. In my last role, I was included in GenAI testing and on several university workgroups. I also choose to keep up with this technology due to the potential impact, but also because I have school-aged children who are going to be impacted and feel the need to know the dangers and signs of mis- and over-use.

It’s not my role to state whether you should or should not use this technology. But I do believe everyone should be aware of how these technologies are being inserted into our lives through tools we have used for years or even decades. And my fear is for creatives who shouldn’t be expected to spend hours a week to avoid something they didn’t ask for, but may pay a price for having accessed through future backlash or awards ineligibility. So if you sense negativity in this document, it’s due to the pressure of billionaires, governments, and corporations who believe we are all destined to live in their version of the future.