This guide provides steps to turn off AI pop-ups like 'write with Gemini' in Google Docs, ensuring a smoother writing experience.
Upon opening a Google Doc to compose an article, I was immediately greeted by an intrusive text box prompting me to 'write with Gemini.' In my frustration, I searched for a way to dismiss this AI feature but found no immediate solution, which only added to my annoyance.
Instead of focusing on my article, I ended up detailing how to eliminate the AI pop-ups from Google Docs, a task that took some effort to figure out. Here’s how to do it.
The first step is relatively simple: I initially overlooked the option labeled 'bottom bar preferences' in my haste. Instead, I clicked on 'Ask something else' and inquired with Gemini about how to remove it from my workspace. In a rather ironic twist, Gemini suggested I click the 'X' icon to close the conversation, but this action did not disable the feature—it merely ended the dialogue I was having with the AI.
Other users of Google Docs have reported encountering additional features that I have yet to see, such as a 'help me write' function that hovers over the cursor while working. This could potentially be distracting, so it might be wise to address it proactively before it becomes a nuisance. As Benjamin Franklin once wisely noted, 'An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.' While he referred to fire safety, I apply the sentiment to product design.
Instead of disabling each AI feature one by one, akin to a game of whack-a-mole, users can turn off 'smart features' across their Google workspace via Gmail settings. This should effectively eliminate the disruptive Gemini pop-ups, allowing for a more focused writing experience in Google Docs.
With these steps, you should have a cleaner workspace free from annoying AI interruptions. You can now write without distractions.
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Amanda Silberling, a senior writer at TechCrunch, covers the intersection of technology and culture. Her previous work includes contributions to Polygon, MTV, the Kenyon Review, NPR, and Business Insider. She co-hosts the podcast 'Wow If True' with science fiction author Isabel J. Kim. Before joining TechCrunch, Amanda worked as a grassroots organizer, museum educator, and film festival coordinator. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in English from the University of Pennsylvania and was a Princeton in Asia Fellow in Laos.
For contact or verification purposes, Amanda can be reached via email at amanda@techcrunch.com or through encrypted messaging at @amanda.100 on Signal.
