DuckDuckGo adds Chrome and Firefox extensions for no-AI search

In short: DuckDuckGo launched new Chrome and Firefox extensions that make it easier to use its “no-AI” search page by default.

What happened

DuckDuckGo says more people have been visiting its “no-AI” search page, which is available at noai.duckduckgo.com. The company says this version of search does not show AI-written answer boxes, does not push chat prompts, and shows fewer AI-made images.

To make that experience easier to stick with, DuckDuckGo released new browser extensions for Google Chrome and Mozilla Firefox. A browser extension is a small add-on for your web browser (like installing a new feature). Once installed, it can set DuckDuckGo’s no-AI page as your default search, so searches from your address bar go there automatically.

DuckDuckGo links the timing to recent changes in Google Search. Google has been adding more AI-generated summaries and chat-style follow-ups, which can push the traditional list of links further down the page. DuckDuckGo says interest in its no-AI page jumped after Google’s announcement.

The company shared recent growth figures. It said visits to the no-AI page were up nearly 30% week over week, and on May 28 the page saw traffic three times higher than usual. DuckDuckGo also said its US app installs rose week over week, including a spike on iOS.

DuckDuckGo noted it is not “anti-AI” overall. It still offers its own AI chatbot and a paid subscription that includes other services.

Why it matters

Many people use search all day, and they do not all want AI-written answers at the top. DuckDuckGo is betting there is growing demand for a simpler “just show me links” style of searching, like choosing a news feed with fewer automated summaries.

Source: TechCrunch AI