Trending Now - Users Flee Google for Duckduckgo Amid AI Search Changes
WHO:
Inc - DuckDuckGo CEO criticized Google for "force-feeding" AI to users.
WHAT:
MacRumors - DuckDuckGo's "No AI" search traffic more than tripled after Google's announcement on May 19.
MacRumors - Traffic to DuckDuckGo's No AI search page hit three times the baseline on May 28 and has remained 84 percent above baseline since May 19.
MacRumors - DuckDuckGo offers a No AI search option that has no AI-assisted answers, no chat interface, and surfaces fewer AI images.
MacRumors - Kagi, a paid search engine, charges $5 per month for a limited number of searches and $10 per month for unlimited searches.
WHERE:
MacRumors - DuckDuckGo can be set as the default search engine on Apple devices.
WHEN:
MacRumors - Google's I/O announcements occurred on May 19.
MacRumors - Traffic to DuckDuckGo's No AI search page hit three times the baseline on May 28.
WHY:
MacRumors - Users are rejecting Google's AI overhaul, prompting a surge in demand for DuckDuckGo's No AI search option.
HOW:
MacRumors - DuckDuckGo is promoting new extensions for Chrome and Firefox that set No AI search as the default.
MacRumors - DuckDuckGo plans to add No AI search settings to its original extensions for Chrome, Firefox, Edge, and Opera in the near future.
(UPDATED May 30, 2026 11:20 UTC)
DuckDuckGo's CEO has criticized Google for what he calls "force-feeding" AI to users, a sentiment that seems to resonate with many as traffic to DuckDuckGo's No AI search option has more than tripled since Google's recent announcements. On May 28, visits to this No AI search page reached three times the usual amount and have stayed 84 percent above baseline since May 19, indicating a clear user preference for a search experience without AI-assisted answers. To capitalize on this trend, DuckDuckGo is promoting new extensions for Chrome and Firefox that will set No AI search as the default, with plans to add similar settings to their original extensions for other browsers in the near future.