How to deactivate AI features on your Android smartphone

Android smartphones have become increasingly reliant on artificial intelligence (AI) to improve usability, streamline tasks, and personalize the user experience. AI is now integrated into nearly every aspect of these devices, from voice assistants like Google Assistant to predictive text, smart battery management, AI-enhanced photography, and smart notifications. While these features are designed to make life easier, not everyone finds them helpful.

Some users appreciate AI-driven functions that predict their needs, optimize battery life, and enhance photos automatically. However, others find these tools intrusive, unnecessary, or even distracting. For instance, predictive text may alter words in unexpected ways, AI-powered camera enhancements might change the natural look of photos, and smart notifications could prioritize messages differently than users expect. Also, privacy-conscious individuals may feel uneasy about AI algorithms analyzing their interactions, personal data, or browsing history.

For those who prefer a more traditional phone experience—one that does not rely on AI for suggestions, corrections, or optimizations—disabling these features can help restore control over how their device operates.

Disabling Google Assistant

Google Assistant is one of the most prominent AI features on Android devices. If you do not use it, turning it off can prevent accidental activations and reduce background activity.

1. Open Google App – Launch the Google app on your device.
2. Access Settings – Tap your profile icon in the top-right corner, then go to “Settings.”
3. Navigate to Assistant Settings – Select “Google Assistant” from the list.
4. Disable the Assistant – Scroll down to the “General” section and toggle off “Google Assistant.”

Once disabled, your phone will no longer respond to “Hey Google,” and the Assistant will not activate when holding the home button or swiping from the bottom corner.

Turning Off Smart Text Prediction

AI-powered text prediction can be useful, but some users may find it intrusive or distracting. To turn it off:

1. Go to Keyboard Settings – Open “Settings” and navigate to “System” > “Languages & input” > “On-screen keyboard.”
2. Select Your Keyboard – Tap the keyboard app you use, such as Gboard or Samsung Keyboard.
3. Disable Predictive Text – In Gboard, go to “Text correction” and turn off “Show suggestion strip” and “Next-word suggestions.” For Samsung Keyboard, toggle off “Predictive text” under “Smart typing.”

This will stop the keyboard from offering word suggestions while typing.

Disabling AI-Powered Camera Enhancements

Many Android phone cameras use AI to enhance photos automatically. If you prefer manual control, follow these steps:

1. Open the Camera App – Launch your phone’s camera.
2. Access Settings – Look for the gear icon in the camera interface.
3. Turn Off AI Features – Find options like “Scene optimizer,” “AI enhancements,” or “Auto HDR” and disable them.

Different brands use different names for AI-powered enhancements, so explore the settings to ensure all AI-based optimizations are turned off.

Stopping AI-Based Battery Management

AI-powered battery management analyzes usage patterns to optimize battery life, but it may also restrict background activity for apps you want to run freely. To disable it:

1. Open Settings – Navigate to “Battery” or “Device care” (on Samsung devices).
2. Go to Battery Optimization – Find “Adaptive Battery” or “Battery Optimization.”
3. Turn It Off – Toggle off Adaptive Battery to stop AI from limiting app activity.

This setting may reduce battery life slightly, but it gives you more control over which apps run in the background.

Disabling Smart Notifications

Android alerts can be AI-powered, sorting messages into categories and prioritizing alerts based on usage patterns. To turn off this feature:

1. Open Settings – Go to “Apps & notifications” or “Notifications.”
2. Manage Notification Categories – Look for “Adaptive notifications” or “Smart notifications.”
3. Disable AI Sorting – Toggle off options that automatically prioritize or group notifications.

This ensures notifications are displayed as they arrive, without AI filtering or reordering them.

Turning Off AI-Generated Content in Google Photos

Google Photos uses AI to automatically edit and enhance images. If you prefer manual control:

1. Open Google Photos – Launch the app on your phone.
2. Access Settings – Tap your profile picture and select “Photos settings.”
3. Disable AI Features – Turn off “Suggested edits” and “Memories” to stop AI-generated enhancements.

This prevents Google Photos from automatically suggesting edits or creating collages and animations.

Disabling AI-Powered Search and Recommendations

Android’s AI-driven search provides personalized suggestions based on browsing and app usage. To turn it off:

1. Open Settings – Navigate to “Google” > “Manage your Google Account.”
2. Go to Data & Privacy – Scroll down to “Web & App Activity.”
3. Disable Activity Tracking – Turn off “Include Chrome history and activity from sites, apps, and devices that use Google services.”

This prevents AI from learning your browsing habits and tailoring recommendations.

Stopping AI-Enhanced Voice Typing

AI-driven voice typing allows speech-to-text conversion with contextual predictions. If you prefer a simpler voice-to-text experience:

1. Go to Keyboard Settings – Open “Settings” and navigate to “Languages & input.”
2. Select Voice Typing – Tap “Google Voice Typing” or your preferred voice input option.
3. Turn Off AI Enhancements – Disable “Enhanced voice typing” to prevent AI-based autocorrections.

This ensures that voice input is transcribed as spoken, without AI-based modifications.

Final Thoughts

AI tools on Android help with tasks, but not all users want them. Some find them handy, yet others see them as a bother. Smart tools like Google Assistant and auto photo edits can change how the phone works. For some, this is good, but for others, it feels like they lose hold of their phone.

Turning off these smart tools can help stop odd word suggestions, stop auto edits in photos, and keep the phone from sorting notes in a way that does not make sense. It can also help keep more data safe, as some do not like how AI looks at their info to make picks.

For those who want a phone with no AI assistant, there are many ways to stop these tools. Each brand may have its way of turning them off but there is always a way to turn them off. By going into the phone’s set-up and turning off smart tools, users can make sure their phone runs just how they like.

While some AI tools may still run, the phone will work in a way that feels better, with less input from smart tools. Each user has their way of using tech, and for those who want to use their phone without AI, these steps will make sure they have a full control over how it works.