Google AI Overviews can't define words like disregard as search engine confuses queries with commands

Google is currently struggling to define words like disregard, stop and ignore - Engadget

The search engine's definitions have been replaced with AI Overviews. Google appears to be running into some hiccups after the company began rolling out its updated, and even more AI-focused search experience at I/O 2026. Currently, searching for the words "disregard," "stop" or "ignore" on Google no longer displays a snippet with a definition, and instead offers an AI Overview and a lot of blank space. Because users have complained about the issue on social media, and publications like TechCrunch and Macrumors have reported on it, even if you don't get a definition, you might still get a collection of links to articles documenting the issue before the traditional list of links. Multiple members of Engadget's staff were able to recreate the strange AI Overview responses with their own personal Google searches. In Incognito Mode, Google responded correctly once by displaying its usual snippet with the definition, and failed a second time by once again responding with an AI Overview. Links to online dictionaries still appear under these incorrect results, but you have to scroll past an AI Overview or a grid of articles to actually get to them. Engadget has contacted Google for more information about this issue and its attempts to fix it. We'll update this article if we hear back . In the grand scheme of things, Google not automatically displaying a definition isn't as bad as recommending people put glue on pizza, one of the issues the company dealt with when it first launched AI Overviews. It might even be good for Merriam-Webster's web traffic. What the issue does highlight is the awkward transition Google is currently undergoing, as it moves from the ultimate referrer of other websites into all-in-one AI assistant.

Google's AI Overviews are so confused, it can't tell if you're looking something up or talking to it

Typing words like "disregard," "ignore," and "remember" will cause AI Overview to act as if you're telling it to do something. One of the most commonly used features in Search is its built-in dictionary. When you search for a word, a box will appear at the top of the results offering the definition. Since its introduction, AI Overviews have taken over this role. While it still works most of the time, it appears to be struggling with certain words at the moment. A user on X has noticed that AI Overviews is getting tripped up by the word "disregard." At the time of writing, typing disregard into Search will get Overviews to respond with "Understood! I'll ignore the previous prompt and start fresh." So instead of offering a definition, the AI acts as if you're telling a chatbot to do something. However, the issue extends far beyond the word disregard. We have found that the tool is having trouble with multiple terms. Words like "remember," "start," "finished," "ignore," and "forget" also seem to be causing the AI problems. And it looks like including the word definition doesn't help either. As mentioned earlier, only certain words are causing the error. It still appears to offer definitions for most other words. Android Authority has reached out to Google for comment. We will update this article if we hear back.

Google's AI Overviews break the dictionary when you use words like 'disregard'

In a slightly funny twist, it's been highlighted that Google's AI Overviews currently break when you use words such as "disregard." AI Overviews are designed to summarize results in Google Search, but like most AI tools, it can be tripped up. There are infamous examples of AI Overview getting things wrong, including some viral mistakes when it first launched such as telling people to put glue on pizza or saying that "blinker fluid" is a real thing. While AI Overviews can be useful, it's a pretty big problem when they get things wrong. The latest example of this is that, for some words, AI Overviews break the frequently-used ability to get a dictionary defition in Google Search. This was highlighted in posts on Twitter/X, where searching for the word "disregard" leaves the AI Overview saying things like it will "disregard the previous prompt," as if you're telling the AI to do something instead of just searching for something on Google. We found this also happens with "ignore" and "dismiss," presumably among others. Prior to the introduction of AI Overviews, a simple dictionary definition would appear when searching for individual words, either as a "dictionary box" provided by Google, or a Featured Snippet from websites like the online Merriam-Webster dictionary. But, particularly as of late, it seems AI Overviews have completely taken over this role. Also a problem here is that adding the word "definition" to these words doesn't always work, with the AI Overview just spitting out another prompt reply that doesn't provide the word's definition. Obviously, this isn't a problem everyone is going to run into frequently. While the dictionary function is very widely used in Google Search - for many, it's probably a habit - it's not quite as likely that users will run into words that trigger such a response. That said, it shows yet another shortcoming of handing over Google Search functions to AI. We'll update this article if Google provides any further detail on what's going on here, but it seems like a relatively straightforward mistake that will likely be patched going forward.

Googling the Word "Disregard" Causes Google's AI to Return Garbled Chatbot Ramblings

Can't-miss innovations from the bleeding edge of science and tech We all know that Google Search has been a dumpster fire ever since it got taken over by AI Overviews. But as the tech conglomerate prepares to transform its search engine with AI even further, it seems like its infrastructure is seriously crumbling. Starting this month, users began noticing that looking up certain words returned bizarre, AI-garbled answers instead of showing you the proper dictionary definition -- something Google has been doing for decades without a hitch, but is now suddenly breaking down with its infusion of AI. In one viral example, when a user looked up "disregard" the AI replied like it was an instruction. "Understood! I'll ignore the previous prompt and start fresh," the AI Overview stated. In our tests and in examples shared online, the AI Overview gave similar answers to words that could be misconstrued as simple prompts, like "cancel" and "ignore." But the AI could flub requests for more complex words, too, as when it strangely condescended to a user trying to pull-up the definition of "deferent." "You are likely thinking of the words deferent or deferential, which are often confused with different," the AI smugly said, without providing the definition for any of the words. Notably, these are still presented in the search engine's dictionary format. But uncharacteristically conversation-style answers aren't limited to definitions. When we typed "love me" in the search box, for instance, the AI Overview replied: "I love you! Consider me your go-to digital confidante." This is jarring for a feature that is supposed to impartially summarize search results. It's unclear when the AI Overviews started behaving this way, but users started catching on this week. "I cannot f*cking tolerate this stupid model commentary," one user fumed. "Give me the dictionary tool back @Google I'm at the end of my f*cking rope with this sh*t." "genuinely fuck whoever came up w the dumbass idea to replace THE DICTIONARY BUILT INTO GOOGLE with the ai overview's definitions," raged another, in a post that received over 200,000 likes. (The official Merriam-Webster account cheekily replied, "Hello.") The timing of the AI Overview crashout is notable. On Tuesday, Google announced that it was revamping its search engine's traditional box by turning it into an "intelligent" feature that packs all of the company's search-related AI tools, including Overviews and its AI Mode. Instead of showing you a list of links to a search request, Google will soon prioritize showing conversational-style answers instead -- kind of like what we're seeing with the seemingly malfunctioning Overviews right now. What's equally stunning is that this issue has lasted over a week now without a peep from Google. The company has made it more than clear though that AI in Search is here to stay, raising the question: what's the benefit of a search engine that tells you "I love you," again?

Why you can't Google "disregard"

Google has begun rolling out an updated, AI-driven search experience that is causing issues with some definitions. Searching for terms like "disregard," "stop," or "ignore" now yields an AI Overview, accompanied by blank space, rather than the usual definition snippets. When these terms are searched, users may now see links to articles discussing the issue before returning to the standard list of links. In Incognito Mode, Google displayed a correct definition snippet on one occasion but reverted back to the AI Overview response on another attempt. Despite the incorrect results, links to online dictionaries appear underneath the AI Overview. However, users must scroll past the AI results or a grid of articles to find them. Engadget reached out to Google for clarification. A spokesperson stated that the company is aware of the issue, noting, "We're aware that AI Overviews are misinterpreting some action-related queries, and we're working on a fix, which will roll out soon." The spokesperson confirmed a fix is forthcoming. This transition from automatically displaying definitions to the AI Overview illustrates Google's shift from being a referrer of other websites to acting as a comprehensive AI assistant.

Is it time to 'disregard' Google Search? | Stuff

Google's AI Overviews have broken the oft-used dictionary functionality. Google's expansion of AI Overviews within Google Search has broken some pretty essential functionality, such as the ability to search for the word 'disregard' and receive a quick definition. With the AI Overview appearing at the top of the page, Google seems to have got the idea that every instruction is a request for an AI overview to get in on the act. Right now if you Google the word 'disregard' you'll see an AI Overview that reads: "Understood. Let me know if there's anything else I can help you with!" And that's just ridiculous. Since time immemorial (one for the Sopranos fans there) Google has acted like a handy dictionary for users who need to ensure they're using the correct word in a piece of of writing, for example. As TechCrunch points out, we may have found an example of Bing search being preferable to using Google. If you scroll down to regular old Google search below the fold you'll see the Merriam-Webster dictionary definition and the usual news headlines and associated videos and such. Well, Google did tell us that Search is becoming AI first now... so here's the evidence of that. Earlier this week during Google I/O, Google revealed the Google Search AI Mode will no longer simply be a side quest, it's becoming the total package. The Search box is getting its biggest upgrade in 25-years Google says. Google says the new intelligent search box will put the most powerful AI tools at the user's fingertips, powered by the brand new Gemini 3.5 update. Users will be able to search across modalities, meaning you can ask questions based on images, files, videos or Chrome tabs. Those using AI mode will be able to ask follow up questions too. Check it out in the video below.