DuckDuckGo Installs Surge 18% After Google’s AI Search Overhaul
On Apple devices, the spike reached a staggering 70%. This increase followed a 23% rise in traffic to DuckDuckGo’s AI-free search page.
May 31, 2026 – 9:56 am
Image by: LinkedIn
TL;DR:
DuckDuckGo experienced a surge in app installs of 18% week-over-week following Google’s announcement of its AI search overhaul. Apple device installs peaked at 70%. Traffic to DuckDuckGo’s AI-free search page, noai.duckduckgo.com, also increased by an average of 23%, peaking at 28% on Sunday.
Google’s plans to replace traditional blue links with AI-powered tools that answer questions directly and complete tasks sparked concern among users who saw it as the end of their familiar search experience. DuckDuckGo’s CEO, Gabriel Weinberg, attributed the surge in installs to users seeking alternatives due to Google’s mandatory AI implementation.
"Google is force-feeding AI with no way to opt out," said Weinberg. "As a result, their results are getting worse, not better."
DuckDuckGo emphasizes user control over AI integration, contrasting its approach with Google’s default AI settings. The company offers its own AI service, duck.ai, providing access to models from various providers while ensuring private conversations unrelated to training.
This shift towards AI in search is fostering new business categories, such as Peec AI, which helps brands track their visibility in ChatGPT and other AI search results, achieving $10 million ARR in six months. Apple’s iOS 27 will further empower users by allowing them to choose rival AI models for Siri queries and set third-party services as defaults for streaming, reflecting the broader industry trend.