During its annual I/O developer conference, Google showcased a future where conventional search results are gradually being supplanted by AI-generated responses, automated task management, and background AI agents capable of executing requests on behalf of users. However, the company’s initiative to reorient Search to function more like an AI assistant has elicited strong reactions.
While Google frames this shift as the next phase of Search, numerous users have voiced concerns that AI-generated summaries often complicate even simple searches unnecessarily. Additionally, others worry about inaccuracies, diminished transparency, and the increasing apprehension that AI summaries could negatively impact websites reliant on search traffic.
This backlash appears to be benefiting DuckDuckGo, as users can “opt out of AI.”
The company noted that installations of its app in the US surged by an average of 18.1% week-over-week between May 20 and May 25 compared to the previous week, according to TechCrunch. This growth persisted for six straight days and peaked at 30.5% on May 25.
The increase was even more pronounced on iPhones. DuckDuckGo reported that iOS installations experienced a week-over-week rise of 33%, with single-day growth reaching nearly 70%.
The company also observed a boost in traffic to its AI-free search page, noai.duckduckgo.com, where all AI features are disabled by default. DuckDuckGo indicated that visits to this page grew by an average of 22.7% in the same timeframe, peaking at 27.7% on May 24.
DuckDuckGo CEO Gabriel Weinberg openly criticized Google’s recent search approach.
“Google is force-feeding AI with no option to opt out. Consequently, their results are deteriorating, not improving. We aim to be the platform that empowers users and allows them to decide how much or how little AI they want,” stated Weinberg, as reported by TechCrunch.
DuckDuckGo has consistently branded itself as a privacy-centric alternative to mainstream search engines, currently holding a small share of the US search market. During Google’s antitrust trial in 2023, Weinberg testified that Google’s default search agreements hinder the growth of competitors like DuckDuckGo.
Interestingly, DuckDuckGo is not completely distancing itself from AI.
The company has introduced its own AI tool, Duck.ai, which provides users access to models from OpenAI, Anthropic, Meta, and Mistral AI. DuckDuckGo asserts that user chats are private, IP addresses are eliminated prior to sending requests, and conversations are not utilized for AI training.
