DuckDuckGo Simplifies Access to AI-Free Search

DuckDuckGo has released new extensions for Chrome and Firefox browsers, enabling users to set its AI-free search engine—noai.duckduckgo.com—as the default option. The setup takes just a few seconds and requires no complex configurations: simply visit the service page and select the corresponding option.

Interest in AI-free search alternatives is growing. According to DuckDuckGo, browser installations in the U.S. surged by 21% in the week following Google’s I/O conference announcements. On iOS, the increase was 33%, and on Memorial Day, it reached 69%. Unlike competitors, DuckDuckGo empowers users to decide when and how to use AI while retaining access to chatbots and other AI tools.

Google, in contrast, is aggressively integrating AI into its search engine. At the I/O conference, the company unveiled updates, including a new search interface, AI agents for research, and the Gemini 3.5 Flash model as the foundation for its AI mode. These changes underscore Google’s strategy to make artificial intelligence a central element of the search experience.