DuckDuckGo No-AI extension traffic jumps after Google I/O

DuckDuckGo launched No-AI Search extensions for Chrome and Firefox on June 1 that set users’ default search to noai.duckduckgo.com, the company’s AI-free subdomain. The extensions remove AI-generated images, conversational summaries and other AI features the company added over the past two years.

When enabled, the extension points the browser to DuckDuckGo’s AI-free index and interface while blocking the company’s AI-assist products. A Firefox version went live the same day as the Chrome extension. Users who want more granular control can use DuckDuckGo’s Privacy Essentials extension to toggle individual AI features and to block trackers.

Traffic to the AI-free subdomain rose sharply around Google I/O, with visits tripling on May 28 and averaging about 84% above the site’s normal baseline in the weeks that followed, the company reported. DuckDuckGo also reported a rise in U.S. app installs in late May, with average weekly increases between May 20 and May 25 and a single-day iOS install peak of about 70%.

Gabriel Weinberg, DuckDuckGo’s chief executive, publicly criticized Google’s integration of AI into search, stating, “Google is force-feeding AI with no way to opt out. As a result, their results are getting worse, not better.” The company highlighted user choice in a social post noting that visits to its No AI page have tripled since Google detailed its search changes.

Other browser makers have taken related steps. One vendor introduced a paid, stripped-down browser version for a one-time fee that removes an integrated AI assistant, wallet and other add-ons. Another browser developer is redesigning its settings to include a single toggle that can disable current and future AI features while keeping optional AI tools available for users who want them.

DuckDuckGo continues to offer its own AI products alongside the No-AI extension. The company provides Duck.ai, an anonymous chatbot that connects to multiple large language models and offers private chat options within daily limits, with premium tiers that unlock access to more powerful models. The firm also built DuckAssist for AI-generated search summaries; the extension listing notes users can opt into or out of DuckDuckGo’s AI features.

The No-AI extension provides a one-click way to make the AI-free search subdomain the browser default and to exclude the company’s AI responses and image results. Users who prefer selective control can restore individual AI features through DuckDuckGo’s other extensions and settings.