DuckDuckGo has seen a 30% increase in app installs as users increasingly reject Google's AI-driven search revamp in favor of privacy options.
Google's AI Search Overhaul
During its annual I/O developer conference, Google announced a major shift from traditional search results to an AI-based system designed to answer queries and perform tasks. This change has sparked significant backlash, with critics arguing it could harm the open web and reduce user control.
Concerns about inaccuracies in AI-generated responses and an overly complicated search experience have driven users to seek alternatives like DuckDuckGo. A recent overheard conversation highlighted this sentiment, with one user stating, "Google just isn’t Google anymore."
DuckDuckGo's Response to AI Concerns
DuckDuckGo, known for its focus on privacy, has benefitted from this shift. The search engine, which holds about 2% of the U.S. search market, offers users the ability to opt out of AI features entirely. DuckDuckGo CEO Gabriel Weinberg emphasized the company's commitment to user choice and privacy, stating, "Google is force-feeding AI with no way to opt out. We want to be the place that puts users in charge and allows them to decide how much or how little AI they want."
The company's U.S. app installs increased by 18.1% on average from May 20 to May 25, compared to the previous week, peaking at 30.5% on May 25. iOS installations saw even higher growth, averaging 33% week-over-week, with a peak of 69.9%.
DuckDuckGo's AI-Free Options
Visits to DuckDuckGo's AI-free search page, noai.duckduckgo.com, have also risen significantly, with a 22.7% increase in traffic, peaking at 27.7% on May 24. This page disables AI features like AI-assisted answers and AI-generated images by default.
Despite the rise of AI, DuckDuckGo offers its own AI product, Duck.ai, which provides access to various AI models while maintaining user privacy. According to Weinberg, "Everything you do in DuckDuckGo is private; we don’t collect search histories or chats, and nothing is used for AI training."
User Demand for Choice
DuckDuckGo's other AI features, such as Search Assist and an AI Image Filter, remain popular. Kamyl Bazbaz, DuckDuckGo’s chief communications and policy officer, noted, "People just want a choice."
The trend towards DuckDuckGo underscores a growing demand for privacy and user control in the search engine market, as Google continues to push its AI-centric approach.
Source: https://techcrunch.com/2026/05/26/duckduckgo-installs-are-up-30-as-users-reject-being-force-fed-googles-ai-search/
