DuckDuckGo says it has seen a surge in users following Google's latest AI search announcements, highlighting growing concerns about AI-generated search results.
The privacy-focused search engine reported US app installs increased by an average of 18.1 per cent week-on-week after Google's I/O conference, peaking at 30.5 per cent. Independent analytics firm Apptopia also reported a 29 per cent increase in US downloads.
The increase followed Google's expansion of AI Overviews and AI Mode, which provide AI-generated answers directly within Search. Critics have raised concerns about accuracy, transparency, and reduced user control.
DuckDuckGo CEO Gabriel Weinberg claimed that "Google is force-feeding AI with no way to opt out" and said users should be able to choose "how much or how little AI they want".
Businesses should remind staff to verify important information using trusted sources rather than relying solely on AI-generated summaries, particularly when making financial, legal, technical, or security-related decisions.