On Sunday, DuckDuckGo unveiled browser extensions for both Chrome and Firefox, enabling users to designate their AI-free search page as the default option.
This strategic release coincides with Google’s recent transformation of its search engine toward an AI-centric model that has not been well-received by many users.
The extensions direct all inquiries to noai.duckduckgo.com, a simplified iteration of DuckDuckGo devoid of AI responses, chat prompts, and nearly all AI-generated visuals in the search results.
For users utilizing DuckDuckGo’s proprietary browser, AI preferences seamlessly persist across sessions. The new extensions extend this choice to individuals who prefer to remain on alternative browsers like Chrome or Firefox.
Exodus from Google Search
Google’s search infrastructure is undergoing substantial reconstruction, centered around conversational AI. This transition was announced during the I/O developer conference in May 2026.
Instead of traditional links, users are now presented with AI Overviews that aim to provide direct answers.
Subsequent questions are channeled into an AI Mode chat interface, while the familiar “10 blue links” are relegated beneath the AI-generated content.
The response has been a notable migration away from Google. On May 28, 2026, traffic to DuckDuckGo’s AI-free search page surged to triple its usual level, marking a historic high following Google’s announcement. Subsequent visits have averaged around 84% above baseline, as reported by DuckDuckGo.
Moreover, downloads of DuckDuckGo’s application have surged significantly. In the U.S., installations saw an 18.1% increase week-over-week from May 20 to May 25, peaking at a remarkable 30.5% on May 25.
iOS installations climbed even more rapidly, averaging a growth rate of 33% week-over-week and reaching up to 69.9% at their peak.
According to Apptopia, a firm specializing in app analytics, average daily downloads in the U.S. rose by 29%, while global downloads increased by 12% during the same timeframe.
Demand for User Choice
“Google is force-feeding AI with no way to opt out,” stated DuckDuckGo CEO Gabriel Weinberg. “Their results are deteriorating rather than improving. We aspire to be the platform that empowers users to determine the extent of AI integration they prefer.”
Furthermore, DuckDuckGo intends to introduce AI search controls within its existing Privacy Essentials extensions, compatible with Chrome, Firefox, Edge, and Opera.
Despite holding a modest share of approximately 2% of the U.S. search market, the company is making significant strides.
Conversely, Google’s AI Mode has surpassed one billion monthly users, as noted in a blog post by Elizabeth Reid, Google’s Vice President of Search.
Nonetheless, the recent uptick in traffic to DuckDuckGo’s AI-free pages indicates a burgeoning demographic of users who unequivocally prefer to exclude AI from their search experiences.
DuckDuckGo’s AI Initiatives
It is important to note that DuckDuckGo does not oppose AI technologies. The company operates Duck.ai, a complimentary chatbot that utilizes models from Anthropic, Meta, Mistral, and OpenAI.
It ensures user privacy by anonymizing IP addresses before requests reach the service providers. Additionally, DuckDuckGo provides Search Assist, its proprietary variant of AI-generated summaries.
Kamyl Bazbaz, DuckDuckGo’s Chief Communications and Policy Officer, indicated that both AI features rank among the company’s most favored offerings, despite their apparent divergence from the no-AI search philosophy.
Source link: Cryptopolitan.com.
