Google is embedding Gemini AI prompts into Gmail and Google Docs by default, and the controls to banish them are not where most users would look, according to WIRED. For Google Workspace accounts, only administrators can decide which AI features appear; for personal Gmail accounts, the off switch sits inside Gmail's "Smart features" setting — a checkbox that never mentions Docs.
The Gemini bar appears without asking
WIRED reported that Google Docs is rolling out a "giant Gemini bar" at the bottom of the screen for some users. Journalist Justin Pot said in WIRED that he first noticed the bar in April when it appeared in the Docs account he uses with editors, placing him in the pool of users chosen to test the feature. WIRED noted the rollout varies: some people never see it, and others have reported the bar appearing in the weeks before publication.
Hiding the bar is straightforward. According to WIRED, click Gemini in the menu bar, hover over Bottom bar preferences, and select Turn off.
Workspace admins hold the only keys
For company-issued Google Workspace accounts, WIRED reported, "it's up to the administrator to decide which AI features you do and don't see." Individual employees cannot turn off Gemini features in their own Workspace session; only the IT team can make that change. The article notes that for personal accounts the path is different, but obscure: the toggle lives in Gmail's settings.
How to disable AI in Gmail and Docs (personal accounts)
WIRED's steps for personal Google accounts are:
- Open Gmail and click the gear icon in the top right corner.
- Click See all settings.
- In the General tab, scroll to the Smart features option.
- Uncheck the box — Google will prompt you not to disable the feature.
- Return to Google Docs and refresh the window.
The setting does not mention Google Docs. According to WIRED, turning it off also disables Gmail's grammar suggestions, autocorrect, smart compose, smart reply, and nudges, plus Gmail's spellcheck (browser spellcheck still works). "If you depend on these features in Gmail, you might be stuck with AI in Google Docs," WIRED reported.
Once disabled, the Gemini menu, the audio button, and the AI toolbar at the bottom of Docs are completely gone. A small Gemini button remains in the top-right corner, which WIRED described as easier to ignore. The article also cautions that Google "has a history of undoing changes like this."
The Bye Bye Gemini Chrome extension
For users where the Gmail setting fails, or who want to keep Gmail's smart features, WIRED recommends installing the Bye Bye Gemini extension for Google Chrome. According to WIRED, the extension uses CSS to render every aspect of Google's AI invisible in the browser, covering Gmail, Docs, Drive, and also removing AI Overviews from Google Search results. WIRED called it the option that "seems to be working for everyone."
"I'm not necessarily opposed to AI, I just don't think it should be crammed into every user interface as a default." — Justin Pot, WIRED
Comparing the two removal methods
| Method | Effectiveness per WIRED | What it disables | Requirements |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gmail "Smart features" setting | Works for some users, not others | Gemini menu, audio button, AI toolbar in Docs; Gmail grammar suggestions, autocorrect, smart compose, smart reply, nudges, spellcheck | Personal Google account; refresh Docs |
| Bye Bye Gemini Chrome extension | Works for everyone | All Google AI in Gmail, Docs, Drive; AI Overviews in Google Search | Google Chrome browser |
For enterprise technology leaders, WIRED's reporting indicates that user-level control over Gemini in Google Workspace is administratively restricted, while the Bye Bye Gemini extension offers an end-user workaround that also suppresses AI Overviews in search. Whether Google keeps these interfaces default-on remains to be seen — the article reminds readers that the company has reversed such changes before.
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