How can Turn off the 'AI Assistant'?

[Edwin38637954oaar]

How can I get rid of the horrible 'AI Assisitant' ? I hate, hate, hate, hate eeverything about it. I hate the popups that constantly get in my way every time I open a new PDF, I hate the way it dramatically slows down the application every time I want to just search for something, and I hate that way that it doesn't work at all or provide any value of any form. I just want it gone and never, ever, ever, ever, under any circumstances want it to be there getting in the way of every simple thing I want to do.  Please, please, please, please: how can I make it just go away? I just want to open and look at a PDF for heavens sake, I don't need any of this AI nonsense.

-Ed May

[Tariq Ahmad · Accepted solution]

Hi @Edwin38637954oaar,

You can follow the suggestions from this help page: https://helpx.adobe.com/acrobat/using/disable-generative-ai.html  

This can be done from the App Preferences:

• Launch Acrobat.
• Hamburger Icon(New Acrobat) or Edit > Preferences
• Generative Ai
• Uncheck - "Enable generate AI feature in Acrobat"
• Click Ok. 
• Re-launch Acrobat. 

Let us know if you have further questions. 


~Tariq

[jlcpu]

I did this, but the AI Assistant is still attempting to grab my attention. I have work to do.

(Goes and looks at the preferences setting again after restarting)

What's this? A new checkbox that wasn't there before, and it's checked: "Show AI Video Cards". Okay, so I will uncheck that and restart AGAIN...

... And now, finally, it's at least tolerable: the AI Assistant sparkles on load of every document, but at least it doesn't start automatically making suggestions.

Freaking train wreck. Did anyone ask for this junk to be shoved down our throats?

[abuse removed by moderator]

[melissa_8431]

Once in the Preferences screen, where do I find "Generative Ai"? 

[Tariq Ahmad]

Hi @melissa_8431, Are you using a Mobile app or Reader Desktop or Acrobat Desktop app? 

[melissa_8431]

Acrobat Desktop app

[Tariq Ahmad]

@melissa_8431: Please check the screenshot attached.

[melissa_8431]

Generative AI is not one of my options in the Categories box.  Thank you tho!! 

[Tariq Ahmad]

@melissa_8431: Then what is your question? How can we help? If you are looking for a Generative AI option, it is available with the Acrobat Pro subscription version. This feature is an add-on service that requires a separate purchase. You can read more about this here: https://helpx.adobe.com/acrobat/using/acrobat-gen-ai-usage-policy.html 

[cindys160630]

also when i select "hide for this session" it goes away for a minute or so but then comes right back on. Very upsetting nightmare and annoying on a small laptop screen

[don't display my name]

I too would like to turn AI off, but 'Generative AI' does not show up in my list of options, but yet the "Ask AI" box pops up with every PDF that I open.

[JTeam_Dad]

Click on the hamburger menu tab... the one that has 3 horizontal lines and sayes MENU next to it. Then click on the DISABLE NEW ACROBAT READER. This will take off all the AI BS from your reader.

[Steve3156067208w8]

This box is already unchecked- still pops up and takes over doc. Constantly avoiding all the ai time wasting garbage.

[JTeam_Dad]

It seems that people with Apple don't have the Menu or Hamburger tab for that is where the Disable New Acrobat Reader is at. When you click on this menu option, the Menu or Hamburger tab will disappear and you will on the version of Acrobat Reader that doesn't have AI. In other words, as long as you can see that Menu/Hamburger tab, you have not disabled the New Version. It is not like you can go into the menu and see a checkmark next to it because the entire tab is gone once you disable.

Again, Apple people, I don't know what to tell you other than just keep looking underst every menu. It took me months to finally find this option and is the only option that works. You will NOT find anything under preferrences except for some fake options to disable AI. They really don't want to be a helpful company and provide this option in a clear and open area. I guess they just want people to give up and be forced to use AI.

[johnnyBionic]

@JTeam_Dad , thanks for this. As with many other people it seems, all I want to do is read PDF documents. I have NO INTEREST in any of this AI nonsense 😆

[NYC CFO]

THIS!!! TY

[galinm97802843]

The question is "HOW DO WE GET RID OF THIS AI CRAP???"  People are trying to work.  We don't need our screen and controls blocked by your AI crap.  The "Generative AI" option is not there.  It goes from Forms to Identity.  Turn this crap off!!!!  I'm sure you (even though you're probably an AI bot) can understand the frustration.  Nobody asked for this.  We don't want this.  We are still capable of human thought.  We don't need your help eliminating our jobs.

[cindys160630]

this does NOT work

[bruce_0022]

There is no Hamburger icon. When you say "New" Acrobat, what do you mean? Is there a version number or name? There is no Edit > Preferences option. There is no place to "uncheck." How can this be so difficult?

[Tariq Ahmad]

Hi @bruce_0022, 

The Hamburger icon is visible to Windows users only; considering your screenshots, you seem to be using a Mac.  

Also, this feature(Ai Assistant) is only available if you use Modern Acrobat. To check if you have Modern Acrobat enabled. Launch Acrobat> View > Disable Modern Acrobat. 

Let me know if you've more questions. 

~Tariq

[melissa_8431]

Thank you

[SixSigmaGuyG]

So what was the point of answering if it's only for Windows users?  I'm extremely frustrated. Sorry for my tone.

[ellencarnahan]

There are two places AI shows up in Acrobat. One is enabling or disabling Generative AI which is the topic of this overall thread. The second is the "Use AI! [sic]" button in the top right. And to that, continual "suggestions" by the program that slow down actual work. Which is the reason I found this thread to begin with. As another commenter suggests below, "Disabling the New Acrobat" removes both in one fell swoop. Anybody's guess how long this will be an option, but there is your long-winded explanation 😉

[peggy_6144]

TY! 

[JTeam_Dad]

Sorry... but I don't have a MAC to advise you on that. Maybe if someone from Adobe was here, they could provide information about this on a MAC. But I am not going to stop helping people because I can't help MAC people too....