The Artificial Intelligence Overlay
Google Chrome features an integrated accessibility tool called “Live Caption.” When enabled, Chrome uses a local machine learning model to actively listen to any audio playing inside the browser. Whether you are watching a YouTube video, listening to a podcast, or sitting in a web-based meeting, Chrome will rapidly generate text subtitles and force them into a massive black overlay box at the bottom of your screen. While incredible for hearing-impaired users, this feature consumes significant CPU resources and aggressively covers up the actual content of the video you are trying to watch. If you do not need real-time subtitles, you must shut down the AI listener.
How to Turn Off Live Captions
You can permanently terminate the real-time transcription engine via the Accessibility settings.
- Open the Google Chrome desktop browser.
- Click the three vertical dots (⋮) in the top right corner and select Settings.
- In the left-hand sidebar, click on Accessibility.
- At the very top of the main window, locate the master toggle switch labeled Live Caption.
- Toggle this switch to the Off position (the grey position).
A Clean Video Player
The change is instantaneous. Google Chrome will completely unload the local transcription algorithm from your computer’s memory. The black subtitle box will instantly vanish from your screen. The browser will never again attempt to analyze your audio streams, instantly reducing background CPU usage and returning full control of the video playback experience to the individual website’s native video player.