In contrast to Google Search, DuckDuckGo, which prioritizes privacy, approaches AI at a more measured pace.

      There is no doubt that AI will have a considerable influence on areas such as search in the upcoming years. However, there is a debate regarding the pace at which this integration should take place. Google, a leader in the industry, is fully focused on integrating AI into all its search tools, whereas DuckDuckGo, which prioritizes user privacy, lets users decide the extent of their engagement with AI. This flexibility may favor DuckDuckGo in a landscape where not everyone is ready to fully adopt AI.

      A recent report from The Verge indicates that DuckDuckGo has ambitious intentions to integrate AI into its widely used search engine. Users can expect to see AI-generated answers for certain queries on both the DuckDuckGo website and app in the near future. Furthermore, the company is incorporating web search functionalities into its AI chatbot, and these tools are now moving out of their beta phases.

      DuckDuckGo introduced its AI-assisted responses, referred to as DuckAssist, in 2023. The company initially highlighted that this tool is designed to provide a “less intrusive” option compared to features like Google’s AI Overviews. The service offers more succinct answers while allowing users to manage how often they encounter AI-generated responses. Notably, DuckDuckGo also provides the ability to disable these responses entirely.

      In the current iteration of the DuckDuckGo app, you can select from options such as Assist, Sometimes, On-demand, Often, or Never. The Sometimes option displays AI-assisted answers only when they are particularly relevant, while the On-demand setting shows such answers only when the Assist button is clicked. When set to Often, AI-assisted responses are more frequently present across a wider range of searches.

      So, how often do AI-generated answers appear? Gabriel Weinberg, the CEO and founder of DuckDuckGo, explains that currently, only 20% of searches are AI-generated, although this percentage is expected to increase over time. He stated:

      “We’d like to raise that over time… That’s another major area that we’re working on… We want to be cautious about it. We don’t want to present it to users if we don’t believe it’s appropriate.”

      In implementing AI, DuckDuckGo remains committed to its privacy principles. Interactions with AI models are consistently anonymous, with your IP address concealed, regardless of the selected model. Contracts with the AI companies behind each model ensure that user data is not utilized for training purposes.

      At present, users can switch between GPT-4o mini, o3-mini, Llama 3.3, Mistral Small 3, and Claude 3 Haiku.

      DuckDuckGo’s AI features can be accessed through its chatbot on the Duck.ai website or via the DuckDuckGo browser. Additionally, AI-assisted responses will be present in the DuckDuckGo search engine.

      What about Google?

      If you are using Google Search, the world’s most popular search tool, it is vital to note that completely opting out of all of Google’s AI search features is not an easy task. Nonetheless, there are ways to limit or avoid the AI Overviews feature.

      Many of these features are still labeled as experimental, which makes it somewhat simpler to disable them. Additionally, third parties have found various workarounds, although these methods can be inconsistent.

      Ultimately, it is essential to acknowledge that Google’s AI Overviews are becoming a fundamental aspect of the overall Google Search experience, for better or worse.

      Many will be pleased to see that DuckDuckGo is seriously engaging with AI and incorporating it into its range of search products. However, the company understands that not everyone is interested in using AI, and those users have a straightforward process to opt-out of AI features. This option also exists for those who prefer to experience AI search in moderation.