Google AI Overviews appears to be replacing dictionary results with prompt-style replies for these Searches

Google’s AI Overviews feature appears to be misinterpreting certain word searches as instructions instead of showing dictionary definitions. Users on X (formerly Twitter) recently pointed out that searches for words such as “disregard,” “ignore,” and “dismiss” can trigger responses where the AI acts as if it has been given a command rather than being asked for the meaning of a word. AI Overviews are designed to generate summaries at the top of Google Search results using artificial intelligence. However, in these cases, the system reportedly responds with phrases such as “I will disregard the previous prompt,” instead of providing a dictionary-style explanation.Before the rollout of AI Overviews, Google Search would usually display a dictionary box or results from websites such as Merriam-Webster when users searched for individual words. Now, AI-generated summaries often appear instead. Reports suggest that even adding the word “definition” to searches such as “disregard definition” does not always solve the issue, with the AI still generating prompt-like replies.The issue highlights one of the challenges of integrating AI systems more deeply into search functions. AI Overviews have previously produced incorrect or unusual answers, including earlier viral examples that suggested adding glue to pizza or described “blinker fluid” as a real product.At I/O 2026, Google announced major updates to Search with deeper Gemini integration. The redesign pushes AI deeper into every part of the experience, drops users into interactive results for some queries, and introduces agents that scan the web on your behalf around the clock.The redesigned box expands as you write longer, messier, more conversational queries—no more deciding upfront which mode you want. It accepts text, images, files, videos and even open Chrome tabs as inputs. AI-powered suggestions appear as you type, which Google says go further than autocomplete. You can ask a follow-up straight from an AI Overview and slide into an AI Mode conversation without losing context. The new box is rolling out today wherever AI Mode is available.“We’re entering the era of Search agents, where you can easily create, customize and manage multiple AI agents for your many tasks, right in Search. We’re starting with information agents. Operating in the background, 24/7, these agents intelligently reason across information to find exactly what you need at exactly the right moment,” the company said.