Key takeaways
- On Nov. 11, 2026, Microsoft described two ways to search Bing without AI-generated answers: a browser extension in preview, Microsoft Bing AI Search Choice, and a “-ai” operator that can be added to any Bing search [1].
- The extension’s toggle applies across all of a user’s Bing searches, according to Microsoft. It is available for Chrome and Edge and also sets Bing as the default search engine [1]. Its Chrome Web Store listing adds that it opens Bing on every new tab [2].
- Microsoft’s post does not say whether the switch affects Copilot or other Microsoft AI surfaces, how many people use it, or whether Bing Webmaster Tools reporting reflects answers that users have hidden [1].
Direct answer: Bing users can hide AI-generated answers in search results, either for every search with a Microsoft browser extension that is still in preview or for a single query by adding “-ai” [1]. Whether a searcher sees an AI answer on Bing can therefore depend on the user’s choice. Microsoft’s post gives no usage figures, so it does not show how often these controls are used. This article describes the features as of Nov. 12, 2026.
What happened: In a Bing Search Blog post dated Nov. 11, 2026, Microsoft wrote that “Bing users should have a choice in how they search” and that its research shows users want the option to choose whether AI is involved in every session [1]. The post does not provide that research or its methodology. It presents two options.
What do the two options do?
- The extension. After installation, a toggle lets the user choose whether to see AI-generated answers on Bing, and the preference applies across all Bing searches, according to Microsoft [1]. The extension is available for Google Chrome and Microsoft Edge and also sets Bing as the browser’s default search engine [1]. The Chrome Web Store listing says it also opens Bing on every new tab, which the blog post does not mention [2].
- The “-ai” operator. Adding “-ai” to any Bing search returns results without AI-generated answers, Microsoft says; it requires no installation [1]. Microsoft’s example is the query “why is the sky blue -ai” [1].
When AVJ accessed its Chrome Web Store listing on Nov. 12, 2026, the listing showed version 1.0.0.3, last updated June 6, 2026, with 188 users and one rating [2]. The listing names Microsoft Corporation as the developer and says the developer has disclosed that it will not collect or use user data [2]. Microsoft says the extension is in preview and may change based on feedback [1].
Why this matters for AI visibility measurement
Microsoft also provides publisher-side controls: as AVJ reported on Oct. 31, publishers can set AI training and AI grounding preferences separately for their own content (AVJ coverage). Microsoft describes the new options as searcher controls over whether AI-generated answers appear on Bing [1]. The post does not say they change whether a site can be used in an AI answer.
Our view: anyone sampling Bing’s AI answers should record whether these controls were in use. Microsoft’s post gives no adoption figures [1], so an AI-answer share measured without the controls should not be described as what all Bing users see.
What we don’t know yet
- Whether the toggle or the “-ai” operator affects Microsoft Copilot, Copilot Search or AI features outside the main Bing results page. The post refers to AI answers and “AI features in Bing” and does not name Copilot or Copilot Search [1].
- Whether Bing Webmaster Tools’ AI Performance report, which shows AI grounding queries and citations for a site (AVJ coverage), reflects these controls. Microsoft’s post does not address reporting [1].
- How many people use the extension or the operator, and in which markets and languages the features work. The post gives no figures and no list of markets [1].
- Whether the extension will stay in preview, and whether the off switch will become available in Bing’s own settings without an extension [1].
What to do now
- If you track AI answers in Bing, check whether your collection runs with or without the extension and the “-ai” operator, and state which in your methodology.
- If your sample is meant to measure searches without these controls, exclude queries containing “-ai” and document the exclusion. Microsoft says such queries return results without AI-generated answers [1].
- Ask your tracking vendor whether its Bing collection runs with or without the extension, and what settings its Bing AI-answer figures assume.
Disclosure: AI Visibility Journal uses Microsoft’s Copilot API as an ordinary user and has received no promotional credits or other incentives from Microsoft.
Update log: Nov. 12, 2026 — First published.
Sources
[1] Microsoft Bing. (2026, Nov. 11). “Your choice: Turn AI answers on or off in Bing.” Bing Search Blog. Accessed Nov. 12, 2026. https://blogs.bing.com/search/2026/11/your-choice-turn-ai-answers-on-or-off-in-bing/
[2] Microsoft Corporation. “Microsoft Bing AI Search Choice.” Chrome Web Store listing. Accessed Nov. 12, 2026, about 00:45 UTC. https://chromewebstore.google.com/detail/microsoft-bing-ai-search/mcaabonmnmphidjfohjkdobemneigopa
How this was made
Prepared with AI assistance from the sources cited above and checked against Microsoft’s blog post and the Chrome Web Store listing, then edited by Nhi Phan. Any change will be recorded in the update log and in our Corrections Policy and Log.