DuckDuckGo's AI-Free Search Gains 28% More Visits Following Google's AI Mode Claims

DuckDuckGo experienced a significant surge in user traffic following Google CEO Sundar Pichai's assertion that people embrace the company's AI Mode search feature. Between May 20 and May 25, 2026, DuckDuckGo's AI-free search page (noai.duckduckgo.com) saw an average week-on-week increase of 22.7% in visits, peaking at 27.7% on May 24. Mobile app installations also spiked, with the Android app experiencing an average 18.1% increase in US downloads compared to the prior week, while iOS installs grew by an average of 33%, reaching a peak of 69.9% on May 25.

DuckDuckGo CEO Gabriel Weinberg criticized Google's approach to search integration, arguing that the tech giant is "force-feeding AI with no way to opt out" and that this strategy has degraded search quality rather than improved it. In response, Weinberg positioned DuckDuckGo as a platform prioritizing user control, stating that the company wants to "be the place that puts users in charge and allows them to decide how much or how little AI they want." The company emphasizes privacy protections, with chief communications officer Kamyl Bazbaz noting that DuckDuckGo does not collect search histories or use data for AI training.

Despite the growth, DuckDuckGo's market position remains modest in the broader search landscape. The company controls approximately 2% of the US search engine market, compared to Google's estimated 85% share as of April 2026. Google reported a 19% increase in search revenue during the first quarter of 2026, which the company attributed to its AI experiences. DuckDuckGo continues to offer AI products, including duck.ai, which provides private access to large language models such as GPT-5 mini and Claude Haiku 4.5, alongside its non-AI search options and tools for filtering AI-generated images from results.