DuckDuckGo installs are up 30% as users reject being ‘force-fed’ Google’s AI Search
DuckDuckGo says U.S. app installs jumped after Google’s AI Search overhaul, as some users look for a way to avoid AI-first results.
Intelligence analysis by GPT-5.4 Mini
After Google’s Search overhaul drew backlash, DuckDuckGo says it saw a sharp jump in U.S. installs and traffic to its AI-free search page. The company is pitching itself as the search option for people who want more control over how much AI they see.
Google changed its search page so it uses more AI to answer questions. Some people liked that, but others did not want a computer to decide so much for them.
DuckDuckGo says more people started downloading its app after that change. It also says more people visited a page that turns off AI features.
Think of it like a restaurant menu. Google is serving a new chef’s special to everyone, while DuckDuckGo is saying customers can pick the plain sandwich if they want one.
Analysis
What changed
Google’s I/O search overhaul sparked criticism because its traditional list of links is being replaced by an AI-driven experience that answers queries, runs tasks, and monitors activity in the background. The article says some users reacted by moving to DuckDuckGo, which has long positioned itself as a privacy-first alternative.
DuckDuckGo’s numbers
DuckDuckGo said U.S. app installs rose 18.1% on average week over week during May 20 to May 25 compared with May 13 to May 18. The growth lasted six straight days and peaked at 30.5% on May 25. On iOS, installs rose even faster, averaging 33% week over week and peaking at 69.9%.
DuckDuckGo also said visits to noai.duckduckgo.com, its page that disables AI features by default, averaged 22.7% week-over-week growth and peaked at 27.7% on May 24. The company says the trend held through Memorial Day weekend, when it usually sees softer traffic.
DuckDuckGo’s pitch
The company does have its own AI tools, including Duck.ai, which offers access to models from Anthropic, Meta, Mistral, and OpenAI. DuckDuckGo says it strips IP addresses before requests reach model providers, deletes chats within 30 days, and does not use chats for training. It also offers Search Assist, similar to AI overviews, plus an AI Image Filter.
DuckDuckGo’s message is simple: users should be able to choose how much AI enters search, instead of having it pushed on them. The article frames that as a possible reason some people are trying the service now.
Key points
- Google’s search overhaul has triggered backlash from users who want less AI in search.
- DuckDuckGo says U.S. installs rose 18.1% week over week on average, peaking at 30.5%.
- On iOS, DuckDuckGo says installs averaged 33% week-over-week growth and peaked at 69.9%.
- Traffic to DuckDuckGo’s AI-free search page also increased during the same period.
- DuckDuckGo is using privacy and user choice as its main contrast with Google.
