DuckDuckGo sees US installs surge 18 per cent following Google AI search rollout
iPhone downloads led the spike, with CEO Gabriel Weinberg attributing the shift to dissatisfaction over forced AI features in Google Search.
DuckDuckGo has reported a sustained surge in application installs across the United States in the week following Google I/O 2026. The search engine company stated that US app installs rose by an average of 18.1 per cent over six consecutive days, reaching a peak of 30.5 per cent on 25 May. The growth was particularly pronounced on mobile devices, with the majority of new users arriving via iOS. iPhone installs grew by an average of 33 per cent week-on-week, peaking at 69.9 per cent on the same day.
The company attributed the influx of users to a reaction against Google’s announcement of new AI-powered search features, including the Intelligent Search Box and AI agents. DuckDuckGo noted that its growth in the US was multiple times larger than international rates, suggesting the surge was a response to Google’s US-centric announcement dynamics rather than a global trend. The momentum was sustained through Memorial Day weekend, a period that historically sees lower digital activity.
At I/O 2026, Google unveiled the Intelligent Search Box, designed to process complex queries and accept inputs from videos, images, files, and Chrome tabs. The feature is rolling out globally in regions where AI Mode is available. Additionally, Google AI Pro and Ultra subscribers are gaining access to AI Search agents capable of running 24/7 in the background to gather information.
DuckDuckGo CEO Gabriel Weinberg stated that users were switching platforms due to dissatisfaction with Google’s forced AI integration. "Google is force-feeding AI with no way to opt out," Weinberg said. "As a result, their results are getting worse, not better. We want to be the place that puts users in charge and allows them to decide how much or how little AI they want."
In contrast to Google’s approach, DuckDuckGo allows users to easily switch off AI features within its settings. The company also highlighted its noai.duckduckgo.com website, which has all AI features disabled by default. Visits to this specific URL grew by an average of 22.7 per cent week-on-week, peaking at 27.7 per cent on 24 May. While DuckDuckGo does offer AI features similar to Google’s, the emphasis remains on user choice.
