DuckDuckGo Installs Jump as Users Opt Out of Google's AI Search

Privacy-focused search engine DuckDuckGo has reported a substantial surge in U.S. app installations and visits to its AI-free search page in the week following Google's May 19 announcement of new AI-driven search features. According to data shared by DuckDuckGo with TechCrunch, U.S. app installs averaged an 18.1 percent weekly increase between May 20 and May 25, a notable jump from the previous period of May 13 to May 18. The peak installation growth reached 30.5 percent on May 25. On iOS devices, the increase was even more pronounced, averaging 33 percent and peaking at nearly 70 percent. Concurrently, visits to DuckDuckGo's search page with AI features disabled rose by an average of 22.7 percent, hitting a high of 27.7 percent on May 24.

This uptick in user interest directly follows Google's I/O 2026 keynote, where the tech giant unveiled what it described as its biggest search upgrade in 25 years, integrating more Gemini-powered features, including AI agents and an enhanced AI search box. Google also noted that its AI mode had surpassed one billion monthly users globally, with Gemini 3.5 Flash now serving as the default model. For Google, this represents a strategic pivot towards an AI-centric future for its core search product.

User Preference for Control Over AI Integration

However, this aggressive push into AI-powered search by Google appears to be alienating some users who prefer a more traditional search experience. DuckDuckGo CEO Gabriel Weinberg articulated this sentiment, telling TechCrunch that Google was "force-feeding AI with no way to opt out." He contrasted this with DuckDuckGo's approach, which aims to empower users by allowing them to control the extent of AI integration in their search results. DuckDuckGo itself is not fundamentally opposed to artificial intelligence; the company offers its own AI tools, such as Duck.ai and Search Assist. The key differentiator, according to Weinberg, is user control.

The company's dedicated "no-AI" page intentionally deactivates features like Search Assist and Duck.ai, and it filters out AI-generated images by default. This option is specifically designed for users who wish to conduct searches without any AI intervention. The strategy appears to be resonating with a segment of the online population seeking alternatives to the increasingly complex and AI-saturated digital landscape.

Even before this recent surge, DuckDuckGo had cultivated a reputation as a refuge for internet users wary of Google's extensive data collection and tracking practices. The search engine's association with the Tor network, a platform facilitating anonymous communication, since 2016, has also made it a familiar choice for individuals prioritizing privacy and anonymity online. Tor adopted DuckDuckGo results as its default in 2016, further cementing its image among privacy-conscious users.

While this trend represents a small fraction of the overall search engine market, with Google maintaining its overwhelming dominance, the current moment presents a significant opportunity for DuckDuckGo. It effectively reframes its long-standing privacy-centric narrative into a new, compelling proposition: an escape from AI-driven clutter. The debate for many internet users is no longer solely about data privacy but also about the fundamental nature of search results themselves—whether they should continue to resemble traditional links or morph into chatbot-like responses.