Microsoft offers users control over Bing AI integration, but requires extension installation

Microsoft acknowledged user demand for autonomy regarding the integration of AI into search results, as detailed in a blog post published on November 11. To address this, the company introduced two methods for users to manage Bing AI features. The first option is a preview browser extension named Microsoft Bing AI Search Choice, available for Chrome and Edge. Installing this extension enables a global toggle switch to activate or deactivate Bing AI answers. Alternatively, users can manually append the '-ai' operator to a search query, such as 'best laptops 2026 -ai,' to revert to standard search results. However, the extension route presents a complication: installing it automatically sets Bing as the user's default search engine. This forced default setting has drawn scrutiny, as critics suggest that placing the control within a standalone extension, rather than a native settings page, appears to be a strategic move to promote Microsoft's own products.