How to disable AI features in Google Docs and Workspace

Google has integrated its Gemini artificial intelligence features across its Google Workspace productivity tools, but users who prefer a clean interface can remove these elements. For those working in Google Docs, the most immediate distraction is often the AI box that appears at the bottom of the screen. Users can remove this AI box by adjusting their interface preferences directly within the document.

To turn off the bottom bar in Google Docs:

• Click “Gemini” on the top menu bar above the document.
• Select “bottom bar preferences” from the drop-down menu.
• Choose to turn off the bottom bar, which removes the AI box from the bottom of the screen.

For a more comprehensive solution, users can disable “smart features”—Google’s terminology for AI-driven functionality within its workspace suite—across the entire Google Workspace platform. Instead of managing individual features within each application, users can turn off these functions through their Gmail settings. This broader method can turn off AI features like Gemini pop-ups across the suite.

To disable smart features across Google Workspace:

• Navigate to the Gmail inbox.
• Click the gear icon to open Settings.
• Select “See all settings” at the top of the menu.
• Scroll down to “Google Workspace smart features” and click “Manage Workspace smart feature settings.”
• Toggle off the option to disable smart features in Google Workspace.

This ability to opt out of automated features reflects a broader demand among professionals for control over their digital workspaces. While technology companies continue to push automated assistance into daily workflows, many users find that these additions disrupt their focus and writing process. The desire to preemptively manage these interface changes recalls the advice of historical figure Benjamin Franklin, who famously noted that “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.” In the context of modern software design, taking the time to adjust settings beforehand prevents the ongoing distraction of uninvited digital assistants and helps maintain a preferred workflow.

Why it matters

As AI integration becomes standard in productivity suites, users need clear methods to manage or disable these features to maintain their preferred workflow and interface.