Comply with ZDNET: Add us as a preferred source on Google
ZDNET’s key takeaways
- DuckDuckGo has seen a surge in customers and installs.
- You may simply use DuckDuckGo with none AI.
- This makes it different to Google’s AI Overviews.
Do you utilize Google to your searches however don’t need all of the AI slop? There’s another that is rising in reputation, and its identify is DuckDuckGo.
Like many corporations, Google has been including extra AI to its services and products — and that features its dominant search engine. Run a Google search, and as an alternative of getting the standard outcomes, you are more likely to be hit with an AI overview that will or might not reply your query and will or will not be correct.
Additionally: I found an easy way to automatically keep AI out of my search results – and it works in nearly every browser
At its recent 2026 I/O conferenceGoogle unveiled a slew of AI upgrades to search. Amongst them are a brand new AI search field, brokers that may discover issues for you, hyperlinks to native companies, and the power to serve up extra personalised solutions. On the floor, these enhancements sound promising. However then we return to the issues and fallibilities of AI.
The surging curiosity in DuckDuckGo
Although its accuracy might have improved over time, AI can nonetheless make errors. You may’t be sure whether or not the data within the AI overview is right. Additional, the overview might not totally or adequately reply your query. For these and different causes, many individuals are turning away from AI-powered searches towards a extra basic strategy. And that brings us to DuckDuckGo.
Since Google’s AI-based bulletins at I/O 2026, DuckDuckGo has seen a surge in customers and installs.
“Individuals aren’t simply complaining about Google’s AI search overhaul, they’re leaving,” DuckDuckGo mentioned in a Tuesday post on X. “Yesterday alone, our week-over-week installs surged 30% within the US. Momentum is rising. It is time to hearth Google.”
Additionally: Sick of AI in Search? These 7 Google alternatives still put links first
Right here, DuckDuckGo is referring to installations of its cell apps for iOS and Android within the US, which peaked at 30.5% on Might 25, reported TechCrunch. That surge got here after a 18.1% development spurt from Might 20 to Might 25, in contrast with Might 13 to Might 18. For iOS alone, development was even increased, averaging 33% and reaching a peak of 69.9%.
Visits to DuckDuckGo’s no-AI search web page, which disables AI-generated options by default, rose by a mean of twenty-two.7% week-over-week with a peak of 27.7% on Might 24. The most recent development charges comply with Might 19, the identical day as Google’s I/O occasion.
Your choices for AI-free and personal looking and looking
With all these new customers, how will you faucet into DuckDuckGo for AI-free and personal looking and looking?
First up is the web site/search engine. On the common website, you possibly can determine whether or not you need to run a search with out AI-generated outcomes or chat with an AI bot. The selection is yours. Both approach, DuckDuckGo guarantees that your searches stay personal.
For those who go for AI, you possibly can select amongst a number of fashions, together with GPT-5 mini, GPT-4o mini, Claude Haiku 4.5, and Mistral Small 4. A paid subscription to the DuckDuckGo Plus plan or Professional plan affords entry to extra AI fashions.
Wish to keep away from AI altogether? Simply head to DuckDuckGo’s no-AI website. This one turns off AI-assisted solutions and removes AI-generated photos. Your searches show the same old outcomes and are personal in addition.
Additionally: Google’s new AI Search box is here – along with agents and 5 more upgrades
An alternative choice is to seize the DuckDuckGo browser. Right here, you are capable of search and surf the online privately. Once more, you possibly can determine whether or not to run an everyday search or one with AI in thoughts. The Windows and macOS apps additionally allow you to swap between conventional and AI-powered search. The iOS and Android apps act as net browsers and search instruments with or with out AI.
DuckDuckGo is price utilizing for its privateness protections alone. However if you happen to’re bored with the AI slop that pops up if you use Google, that is all of the extra purpose to offer DuckDuckGo a shot.
