Mass exodus from Google: Users flock to DuckDuckGo for fear of imposed AI

Significant increase in installations in the USA

DuckDuckGo reported a “sustained increase” in installs of its app in the US, which increased by an average of 18.1 percent over the previous week over the six consecutive days following Google’s conference. The peak was reached on May 25, when the number of new installations was 30.5 percent higher. The growth was particularly pronounced among users of Apple devices, where the number of downloads of the application on iPhones increased by an average of 33 percent, while at its peak, also on May 25, this growth amounted to almost 70 percent.

In addition to the application itself, traffic also increased on the noai.duckduckgo.com website, a special version of the search engine where all artificial intelligence functions are turned off. Visits to that page increased by an average of 22.7 percent, with the largest recorded jump of 27.7 percent on May 24. DuckDuckGo emphasizes that their growth in the US last week was several times higher than the international rate, which suggests that the wave of new users is a direct response to Google’s announcements, which were aimed primarily at the American market, and not part of a global trend. It is interesting that the growth also took place during the Memorial Day weekend, which otherwise historically records lower user activity.

What did Google announce?

At its 2026 I/O conference, Google unveiled several new features for its search engine that are based on artificial intelligence. Among them, the so-called “Intelligent Search Box” stands out. Unlike a regular search box, the new one can process complex queries and use videos, images, files, and even open tabs in the Chrome browser as search input. It’s important to note that this feature is rolling out wherever AI is available, not just in the US. In addition, subscribers to Google AI Pro and Ultra services get access to AI search agents, including those that work continuously in the background to gather information for users.

‘Google forcibly installs AI without the possibility of turning it off’

User reactions on social networks like Reddit show that many are switching to DuckDuckGo precisely because of these changes. The CEO of DuckDuckGo, Gabriel Weinberg, shared the sentiment of many users.

​’Google forcibly installs artificial intelligence without the possibility of turning it off. This makes their results worse, not better. We want to be a place that gives users control and allows them to decide for themselves how much AI they want to use. That’s why we’re seeing a jump in the number of people coming to DuckDuckGo, it’s very simple.

It should be clarified that DuckDuckGo also uses features of artificial intelligence, including those similar to Google’s AI Overviews. However, the key difference is that they can be easily turned off in the settings, and users always have the option to visit noai.duckduckgo.com where artificial intelligence is completely and in advance disabled.

Loss of control is the main reason for change

Although DuckDuckGo still holds a relatively small share of the search market of about two percent in the US, this sudden jump in installations signals the existence of a significant segment of users who are willing to change their habits due to concerns about privacy and the imposition of AI technology. A survey conducted by DuckDuckGo itself in 2026 showed that 93 percent of over 110,000 respondents rejected AI search features. Experts point out that the resistance is not necessarily directed against the technology itself, but rather against the loss of control and the possibility of choice.

Google, on the other hand, plans to gradually replace the traditional search results with ten blue links with an AI agent that responds directly to queries, without the simple possibility of returning to the classic view. This move, along with the growing awareness of the amount of personal data collected by technology giants, encourages users to look for alternatives. Additional concern is created by the accuracy of information, as there have been recorded cases in which AI-generated summaries gave inaccurate or nonsensical answers, as well as the fear that such a system will reduce traffic to the publisher’s website, as users will no longer have the need to click on links.