DuckDuckGo's AI-free search page at noai.duckduckgo.com recorded a 22.7% average increase in visits during May 20-25, with peak growth reaching 27.7% on May 24. The surge coincides with Google's expanded AI integration across Search results, which now prominently display AI Overviews that recycle content from publishers.

DuckDuckGo CEO Gabriel Weinberg directly challenged Google's approach, stating the company is "force-feeding AI with no way to opt out" while claiming their results are deteriorating. Weinberg emphasized DuckDuckGo's commitment to user choice and privacy, noting they don't collect search histories or use data for AI training.

Mobile app adoption accelerated significantly, with iOS installs jumping 33% week-over-week and peaking at nearly 70% on May 25. Despite this momentum, DuckDuckGo holds roughly 2% of the US search market compared to Google's dominant 85% share. The privacy-focused engine still offers AI features through duck.ai, supporting models like GPT-5 mini.

The episode reveals growing user resistance to forced AI integration in search experiences. While Google leverages AI to boost revenue—reporting 19% search growth in Q1 2026—DuckDuckGo's strategy of optional AI features appears to resonate with users seeking control over their search experience.