Software & Systems · Story 2

Traffic to DuckDuckGo's proudly 'No AI' search page has tripled since latest Google AI search update

images set in opposition, headshot of Google CEO Sundar Pichai vs. DuckDuckGo cartoon duck mascot
Image via r/technology

Traffic to DuckDuckGo's 'No AI' search page has tripled following Google's latest AI search update, according to PC Gamer. The increase is a response to users seeking search results without AI-generated suggestions.

This shift highlights growing user frustration with AI integrations in search engines. It may signal a market demand for simpler, more straightforward search experiences.

Key details

  • DuckDuckGo's 'No AI' search page traffic tripled after Google's latest AI search update.
  • The story is based on reporting from PC Gamer, published on May 30, 2026.
  • The original post on r/technology received 49,068 upvotes and 991 comments.

Discussion angles

  • Users are switching to DuckDuckGo because Google's AI suggestions seem nonsensical and untrustworthy.
  • Many commenters describe Google's AI features as a reason to leave, not a draw.
  • Some users report long-term satisfaction with DuckDuckGo, citing years of use.
  • A minority of users find DuckDuckGo's results, especially for technical queries, less comprehensive than Google's.
  • Easy switching via Safari settings on iPhone is mentioned as a practical tip for mobile users.

Top comments

Commenters broadly support the switch, with many citing poor AI results as a key motivator for leaving Google, though a few note DuckDuckGo's technical search quality is lower.

Google just sends me to Reddit all the time anyway. Switched a while back.
u/Scoob1978 · 3,792 score
SettingsSafarisearch engineDuckDuckGo For safari iPhone users. I swapped a week or so ago. Love it
u/preddevils6 · 1,174 score
Been using DuckDuckGo for several years and I love it!
u/EducationalKey1206 · 1,164 score
I'm contributing to that. Started when I noticed the Google making absolutely stupid suggestions. Not like human stupid, but like "I'm suggesting this because I don't understand reality because I'm AI" stupid.
u/ICLazeru · 413 score
Personally, I find ddg's results to be lacking most of the time for technical searches.
u/FIuffyRabbit · 310 score