DuckDuckGo, known for its emphasis on user privacy, has announced the expansion of AI-assisted answers on its search engine. Previously available only in beta, this new feature is now accessible to all users. It presents an AI-generated summary of search queries, akin to Google’s AI Overviews. In a distinguishing move, DuckDuckGo allows users to manage the frequency of these summaries and opt to disable them entirely if they prefer.
DuckDuckGo Introduces AI-Assisted Answers
In a recent blog post, CEO and Founder Gabriel Weinberg detailed the new AI capabilities. The highlight is the AI-assisted answers feature, designed to provide users with a quick snapshot of information based on their search queries. The intent behind this update is to streamline the information retrieval process for users.
However, a segment of users favors traditional search methods over AI-generated summaries, expressing concerns over their relevance. The absence of an option to control AI Overviews in Google Search has prompted some users to seek alternative ways to disable that feature.
In contrast, DuckDuckGo’s approach revolves around user control. By accessing search settings and selecting AI Features, users can choose how often they wish to see these AI-assisted summaries. They can select from four options: Never, On-Demand, Sometimes, and Often. While the Never option disables the feature, On-Demand allows users to generate AI summaries at their discretion by tapping a button on the search results page.
Weinberg noted that selecting Often would result in AI-assisted answers appearing for about 20 percent of search queries. DuckDuckGo assures users that these AI-generated summaries are based on anonymous data shared with AI models, emphasizing that no personal information is ever disclosed to third parties.
Regarding the reliability of the AI-generated summaries, DuckDuckGo states that the information is gathered through real-time web crawling. However, since the company cannot regulate the accuracy of all sources, the AI-assisted summaries will include citations, allowing users to assess the reliability of the information presented.
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Photo Credit: DuckDuckGo
In addition to these updates, Duck.ai, previously known as AI Chat, is receiving enhancements as well. New AI models, including OpenAI’s GPT-4o mini and o3-mini, as well as Meta’s Llama 3.3, have been added. Furthermore, a “Recent Chats” feature has been introduced, allowing users to store their conversations with AI locally on their devices. DuckDuckGo guarantees that these chats will not be stored on the company’s servers or those of the AI providers.
