this post was submitted on 27 May 2026
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DuckDuckGo installs are up 30% as users reject being ‘force-fed’ Google’s AI Search (techcrunch.com)
submitted 12 hours ago* (last edited 11 hours ago) by throws_lemy@lemmy.nz to c/technology@lemmy.world
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EDIIT :

Apparently, there is an issue with the warning request to disable the ad blocker

I use Fennec F-Droid and Cromite, and I don't see this issue.

to get around the adblocker warning, use this link.

https://unwall.app/techcrunch.com/2026/05/26/duckduckgo-installs-are-up-30-as-users-reject-being-force-fed-googles-ai-search/

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[–] plutopos@lemmy.zip 8 points 5 hours ago (2 children)

I never bother to disable AI in duckduckgo so I just use a search engine that doesn't have it out of the box

[–] manuremy@sopuli.xyz 9 points 3 hours ago (5 children)

It's not even about disabling it, DDG keeps turning it back on.. I live in a constant battle.

[–] pyre@lemmy.world 5 points 2 hours ago (1 children)

are you sure it's not resetting because of your privacy settings

[–] whaleross@lemmy.world 6 points 1 hour ago

Clearing cookies will reset it because there is no way of ddg to know.

[–] jj4211@lemmy.world 8 points 3 hours ago

Which is crazy as they also made a big deal about how many users don't want an AI result and how they are credibly the choice for those people.

I get offering the feature, but insisting upon it while also bragging about how they cater to the majority of respondents that didn't like it is bizarre..

Google at least is consistent, they just plainly act as of the people who dislike it don't exist.

[–] optimisticturtle@lemmy.world 4 points 2 hours ago* (last edited 2 hours ago) (1 children)

I just tested it. It stores a cookie when you disable duck.ai and Search Assist but no cookie corresponds to them being enabled. Perhaps you might have cleared cookies?

[–] manuremy@sopuli.xyz 1 points 1 hour ago (1 children)

Yeah, I'm aware this is the reason. Which fucking sucks because I need to remember turn them back off every single time I happen to need clear cookies.. But that's probably their plan.

[–] starblursd@lemmy.zip 2 points 1 hour ago

You could set up an exception for that website to not have its cookies cleared when you wipe the rest

[–] sliverr828@lemmy.zip 3 points 2 hours ago

Are you suuuuuuurrrreeeeeeeee you don’t want it turned back on?

[–] NottaLottaOcelot@lemmy.ca 0 points 2 hours ago (1 children)

Which do you recommend?

[–] FlashMobOfOne@lemmy.world 2 points 2 hours ago* (last edited 2 hours ago)

Mojeek is a good one. Qwant is another, but it does have a 'Flash Answers' box that you can disable and it will stay disabled. My browser has it disabled by default, though.

If you're wedded to google you can use udm14.com and it will remove the AI, ads, and knowledge panels.