DuckDuckGo says its app installs climbed after Google began rolling out a more AI-centric search experience, suggesting that at least some users are looking for alternatives as search results change.
According to reporting cited by The Neuron, DuckDuckGo saw U.S. app installs rise an average of 18% week over week after Google announced its search overhaul, with growth peaking at 30% on Memorial Day. On iPhone, the increase was larger, averaging 33% and reaching nearly 70% on a single day. DuckDuckGo also said traffic to its AI-free search page increased 22.7% during the same period.
The spike followed Google's announcement at I/O that it is expanding an AI-powered search interface that places generated answers ahead of traditional link lists and adds follow-up prompts. Google has described the change as its biggest Search update in more than 25 years. The shift has drawn criticism from users who prefer the older format or who do not want AI included in every query.
DuckDuckGo chief executive Gabriel Weinberg took direct aim at Google’s approach, saying the company is pushing AI into search without offering a true opt-out and arguing that the results are getting worse rather than better. DuckDuckGo has positioned itself as an alternative for users who want more control over how much AI is involved in search. Its noai.duckduckgo.com page is designed to provide a search experience without AI-generated responses.
DuckDuckGo was not the only service to see movement. The Neuron reported that Brave Search and Kagi also recorded traffic gains during the same stretch. Bing has also benefited from its own AI integration, growing from 2.8% to nearly 5% in global search market share since 2023, according to figures cited in the report.
The numbers still need to be viewed in context. Google remains the dominant search engine, with roughly 90% of global market share. DuckDuckGo, by comparison, holds about 2% of the U.S. market and processes far fewer queries than Google each day. That means even a sharp percentage increase at DuckDuckGo may reflect a relatively small absolute number of users, even if it signals meaningful dissatisfaction.
Google did not directly address the criticism in the cited reporting. Instead, a spokesperson pointed to a blog post from Elizabeth Reid, Google’s vice president of Search, who said AI Mode now has 1 billion monthly users and that usage is growing quickly. Reid’s argument is that users are choosing the feature voluntarily, not being forced into it. Google has also said users can apply a web filter if they want more traditional results.
The reaction highlights a larger debate over the future of search. Google is betting that users want conversational, AI-generated answers as the default. Critics say the change can make search feel more opaque and less useful, especially for people who just want a list of sources.
DuckDuckGo’s gains do not prove that users are abandoning Google in large numbers. They do suggest, however, that a visible subset of search users is trying out alternatives when the default experience changes. In a market as concentrated as search, even small shifts can become a meaningful signal.
The dispute is less about whether AI belongs in search and more about who gets to decide how prominently it appears. Google is making the case that AI is now central to search. DuckDuckGo is offering a counterpoint for users who would rather keep it optional.