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ZDNET Highlights
- DuckDuckGo has seen growth in users and installs.
- You can easily use DuckDuckGo without any AI.
- This makes it a good alternative to Google’s AI Overview.
Do you use Google for your searches but don’t want all the AI slop? One option that is growing in popularity is DuckDuckGo.
Like many companies, Google is adding more AI to its products and services – and that includes its flagship search engine. Run a Google search, and instead of getting traditional results, you’re likely to be hit with AI observations that may or may not answer your question and may or may not be accurate.
Also: I found an easy way to automatically keep AI away from your search results – and it works in almost every browser
At its recent 2026 I/O conference, Google unveiled several AI upgrades for search. These include a new AI search box, agents that can find things for you, links to local businesses, and the ability to provide more personalized answers. On the surface, those enhancements seem promising. But then we go back to the flaws and mistakes of AI.
Growing interest in DuckDuckGo
Although its accuracy has improved over time, AI can still make mistakes. You cannot be certain whether the information provided in the AI Overview is accurate. Furthermore, observation may not provide a complete or adequate answer to your question. For those and other reasons, many people are turning from AI-powered searches to more classic approaches. And that brings us to DuckDuckGo.
Since Google’s AI-based announcements at I/O 2026, DuckDuckGo has seen a surge in users and installs.
“People aren’t just complaining about Google’s AI search overhaul, they’re abandoning it,” DuckDuckGo said in a statement. Tuesday’s post on X. “Yesterday alone, our week-over-week installs in the US increased 30%. The momentum is building. It’s time to fire Google.”
Also: Are you worried about AI in search? These 7 Google alternatives still put links in first place
Here, DuckDuckGo is referring to installs of its mobile app for iOS and Android in the US, which reached 30.5% on May 25. TechCrunch reports. The jump came after an 18.1% increase from May 20 to May 25 compared to May 13 to May 18. For iOS alone, the increase was even higher, reaching an average of 33% and a peak of 69.9%.
Visits to DuckDuckGo’s no-AI search page, which disables AI-generated features by default, increased an average of 22.7% week-over-week, peaking at 27.7% on May 24. The latest increase comes after May 19, the same day as Google’s I/O event.
Your options for AI-free and private search and browsing
With all these new users, how can you use DuckDuckGo for AI-free and private search and browsing?
First is the website/search engine. On the regular site, you can decide whether you want to run a search without AI-generated results or chat with an AI bot. the choice is yours. Either way, DuckDuckGo promises that your searches will remain private.
If you opt for AI, you can choose from several models, including the GPT-5 Mini, GPT-4o Mini, Cloud Haiku 4.5, and Mistral Small 4. paid subscription The DuckDuckGo Plus plan or Pro plan provides access to more AI models.
Do you want to avoid AI altogether? Just go to DuckDuckGo no-ai site. It turns off AI-assisted answers and removes AI-generated images. Your searches display general results and are private to boot.
Also: Google’s new AI search box is here — with agents and 5 more upgrades
The second option is to grab DuckDuckGo Browser. Here, you are able to search and surf the web privately. Then, you can decide whether to run a regular search or one with AI in mind. windows And Mac OS The apps also let you switch between traditional and AI-powered search. iOS And Android Apps function as web browsers and search tools, with or without AI.
DuckDuckGo is worth using only for its privacy protection. But if you’re tired of the AI sloppiness you encounter when using Google, that’s even more reason to give DuckDuckGo a chance.
