Update: Google is aware and working on a fix
At Google I/O 2026, the tech giant revealed the biggest update to Google Search in over 25 years that pushes AI into everything. It’s a move that appears poised to transform how the internet has worked for decades.
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What was unexpected is that it looks like Google’s AI is also breaking Search itself. Google’s controversial AI Overviews appear to be breaking when you use known AI commands like “disregard”, “dismiss”, and “ignore.”
disregard | verb | to pay no attention to : treat as unworthy of regard or notice pic.twitter.com/vvR1UfsC4RMay 22, 2026
We first started noticing social media posts about the issue where people found searching “disregard” doesn’t show the definition of the word. Instead, it says things like “No problem at all. If you have any other questions, let me know.”
This is what AI bots tend to do when you’re telling it do something instead.
As a reminder, part of the Google Search overhaul involves turning Search into an Gemini-powered AI chatbot that can build you an interactive website, set your calendar, and more.
It’s a mixed bag
(Image credit: Future)
Several people on Tom’s Guide and myself tried searching the known AI prompt words and it’s an inconsistent experience.
For myself, on desktop, I have yet to get the broken AI overview. However, when I tried it on my phone, disregard broke the feature but ignore and dismiss didn’t.
Tom’s Guide U.S. editor in chief Mike Prospero found the words borked the overview in AI Mode including the new words “cancel” and “stop.” AI Mode told him “No problem. I’ve stopped the current action.”
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My colleage Tony Polanco noted a problem on his work account but his personal one didn’t have any issues.
(Image credit: Future)
Obviously, not everyone is just searching AI prompts in Google, but plenty of people utilize the built-in dictionary feature as a habit. On the whole, you probably won’t run into this issue.
However, it does show the flaws in Google turning over Search functions to AI, especially after the original AI Overview controversies when it was introduced in 2025. Just a month ago, a study found that AI overviews are wrong 1 in 10 times, and could be even worse.
Tom’s Guide has reached out to Google for clarity on the issue and I was told that Google knows.
“We’re aware that AI Overviews are misinterpreting some action-related queries, and we’re working on a fix, which will roll out soon,” a spokesperson said.
They clarified that it appears to be an issue with how AI Overview interprets certain queries, and were keen to say that it’s not related to the new Search tools announced at I/O this week.
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