I do use uBlock Origin.
It removes sponsored search results, but it won't do away with the poorly written articles just below.
More importantly, not everyone uses an ad-blocker (especially mobile users).
If installing a browser extension becomes necessary to deem a browser worthy of use, I would think that's a problem.
Fortunately, with web environment integrity websites will be able to force you to use an approved browser (Chrome) with a verified local binary (that will forbid an adblocker and report your browsing to Google) and you won't be able to do anything about it.
the web is nigh-on unusable without an ad-blocker.
When I was young no one really questioned ads in television shows, when I got to uni I kind of stopped watching anything but cable. Then netflix came out and I dropped cable alltogether. Every once in a while I find myself watching television at someone elses house and the constant ads completely destroy any enjoyment of the entertainment, even if I never really questioned it as a kid.
that's how the web is for people who don't run ad-block. They have no idea what it can be.
I think a better question is: Why do you insist on using Google?
There are several search engines on the WWW. Google is just one, and I hear people complaining about that one a lot. I don't use it personally, and I haven't done so for more than a decade. Life goes on perfectly fine without it.
(no, I don't use Kagi or Marginalia either, it's not one of those posts.)
No search engine is immune to LLM generated mumbo jumbo. Google makes an exceptional example at being a terrible search eninge despite majority market share, but as AI continues to pollute the internet, all search engines will deteriorate.
More importantly, not everyone uses an ad-blocker (especially mobile users). If installing a browser extension becomes necessary to deem a browser worthy of use, I would think that's a problem.