Some users are seeing Gemini AI features appear in Google Docs and Gmail. You can disable these new AI elements through Gmail settings or by using a Chrome extension. Here’s how to regain control of your workspace.
Tech companies are pushing artificial intelligence into everyday tools, often without clear ways to opt out. Google Docs is the latest example, with a prominent Gemini bar now appearing at the bottom of the screen for select users. This rollout began for some accounts in April and has expanded in recent weeks, but not everyone sees the change at the same time.
If you’re among those who find the Gemini bar distracting, there’s a quick fix. Click the Gemini option in the menu bar, hover over Bottom bar preferences, and select Turn off. This removes the bar from your view immediately.
For users who want to eliminate Gemini AI features from Google Docs entirely, there are two main approaches. The first involves adjusting a setting in Gmail, though this method works inconsistently across accounts. The second, more reliable solution is to install a Chrome extension designed to hide Gemini elements.
It’s important to note that the process differs depending on your account type. For company-managed Google Workspace accounts, only your IT administrator can disable AI features. Individual users with personal @gmail.com addresses have more control, but the relevant setting is buried in Gmail, not Docs.
To proceed, open Gmail, click the gear icon in the top right, and select See all settings. Under the General tab, scroll to Smart features and uncheck the box. Google will prompt you to reconsider, but once you confirm, the change takes effect. Refresh Google Docs, and the Gemini menu, audio button, and AI toolbar should disappear. However, this also disables other AI-powered features in Gmail, such as grammar suggestions, autocorrect, smart compose, smart reply, nudges, and Gmail’s own spellcheck. Browser-based spellcheck remains available.
If you rely on these Gmail features, you may have to tolerate some Gemini presence in Docs. For those who want a more comprehensive solution, the Bye Bye Gemini Chrome extension hides all Gemini AI elements across Google’s productivity suite, including Gmail, Docs, and Drive. The extension works by applying CSS to make these features invisible in your browser. It also removes AI Overviews from Google search results.
Google’s approach to integrating Gemini AI has drawn comparisons to its broader strategy of replacing legacy tools with new AI-driven products. For example, the company recently announced the phase-out of Google Assistant on Android devices, with Gemini taking over as the default assistant. Details on this transition and its impact on users can be found in this report on the upcoming removal of Google Assistant.
While these workarounds currently allow users to minimize or remove Gemini AI features, Google has a track record of reversing such changes or introducing new AI elements over time. Staying informed and prepared to adjust settings or tools remains essential for those who prefer a less AI-driven workspace.
Google, founded in 1998 and now a subsidiary of Alphabet Inc., reported over 1.8 billion active Gmail users and more than 2 billion monthly active Google Workspace users as of 2025. The company’s rapid rollout of Gemini AI across its productivity platforms reflects its ongoing investment in artificial intelligence, with Alphabet allocating over $30 billion to AI research and development in the past three years.
