A Crowdsourced Guide to Turning Off Unwanted AI Features
A librarian-maintained resource has been gaining traction as a practical reference for opting out of AI features that show up uninvited in everyday software. The page collects step-by-step instructions for disabling AI assistants, summarizers, and chat overlays baked into operating systems, browsers, productivity apps, and other tools where users didn't ask for them.
The project reflects a broader backlash against the current wave of AI features shipped by default rather than as opt-in additions. Many companies now treat AI integration as a competitive requirement, embedding it into settings menus, search bars, and even file managers, often with data-processing implications users may not want.
The Hacker News discussion around the guide shows this frustration is widespread, with commenters adding their own workarounds and complaining about dark patterns that make opting out deliberately difficult.