DuckDuckGo has launched new browser extensions for Chrome and Firefox, designed to provide users with a permanent way to opt out of AI-integrated search experiences. The release comes as the company reports a surge in traffic to its dedicated 'no-AI' search portal, which excludes chat prompts, AI-assisted summaries, and AI-generated imagery in favor of traditional, link-based results.
According to TechCrunch, the move is a strategic response to growing user fatigue surrounding AI-heavy search interfaces. For users of the proprietary DuckDuckGo web browser, these non-AI settings are designed to persist even after browser history is cleared, ensuring a consistent experience across sessions.
The shift in user behavior follows recent industry changes, specifically Google’s decision to overhaul its search engine with AI-first results. TechCrunch reports that this transition has triggered a notable migration of users toward DuckDuckGo’s alternative platform, with traffic to the company’s no-AI search page climbing nearly 30% week-over-week.
App store data provides further evidence of this trend in user preference. U.S. app installs for DuckDuckGo rose by 18.1% during the same period. Notably, iOS installs experienced a significant spike of 69.9% week-over-week, suggesting that a distinct segment of the user base is actively seeking to avoid modern generative AI summaries in favor of standard search results.
