DuckDuckGo Boosts No-AI Search Experience Amid Rising Popularity

As alternative search engine DuckDuckGo continues to gain traction, the company is taking steps to enhance its no-AI search offerings. With traffic up nearly 30% week-over-week, DuckDuckGo has introduced new browser extensions for Chrome and Firefox that allow users to set its AI-free search experience as their default.

Noai.duckduckgo.com offers a clean slate with no AI-assisted answers, chat prompts, or AI images in the search results. The extensions are designed to provide a consistent AI-free browsing experience, which has become harder to find since Google's recent revamp that prioritizes AI-generated content and chat experiences.

DuckDuckGo also announced that its U.S. app installs have seen a 18.1% week-over-week increase, with iOS app installs reaching their highest growth rate yet at 69.9%. This surge in popularity follows Google's announcement of a major overhaul to its search engine, emphasizing AI-driven results and chat experiences.

Since the Google news, traffic to DuckDuckGo’s no-AI search page has tripled on May 28, 2026, setting a new high-water mark. The company notes that visits are averaging around 84% above baseline levels, indicating a sustained shift towards its anti-AI stance.

For existing DuckDuckGo browser users, their AI settings will be preserved even if they clear their browsing history. Additionally, the company plans to update its Privacy Essentials extensions for Chrome, Firefox, Edge, and Opera to include controls for AI search settings.

DuckDuckGo emphasizes that it is not an anti-AI company and still offers its own AI chatbot with access to popular models through a subscription plan. The updated tools are part of the company's commitment to providing users with control over their search experience in an increasingly AI-driven world.