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DuckDuckGo, Ecosia See Gains After Google's Major AI Search Update, Which Also Drove Record Google Queries
DuckDuckGo recorded its highest search traffic on June 1, 2026, following Google's May 19 rollout of expanded AI features. Alternative engines reported increased downloads and installs.
Jun 4, 3:10 PM·1m read4 sources
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DuckDuckGo recorded its highest search traffic on June 1, 2026, after Google announced the largest update to its search bar in more than 25 years on May 19. U.S. installs rose 76 percent in the week of June 1 compared with the week of May 12.
DuckDuckGo averages more than 110 million searches per day, Chief Communications and Policy Officer Kamyl Bazbaz told USA Today. Germany-based Ecosia reported searches up nearly 40 percent and installs more than doubled over the same two-week period. CEO and founder Christian Kroll said users are seeking alternatives that keep AI features optional.
"We’re seeing a clear sentiment that people don’t want AI to be non-optional – and this is playing out in the numbers," Kroll said. Google's update added more natural chatbot conversations, AI personal assistants, and improved booking tools to its AI Mode, which users must toggle on. The traditional list of blue links remains available without the toggle.
Google Vice President of Search Elizabeth Reid wrote that queries reached an all-time high last quarter. Users who want to avoid AI Overviews on Google can add the filter string "&udm=14" to search URLs. com, which applies the filter automatically, recorded about 70,000 visitors the week of May 25, up from its typical 40,000 to 50,000 weekly visitors, according to site creator Ernie Smith.
DuckDuckGo, Ecosia, and Startpage let users turn AI summaries and AI-generated images off in settings. Google does not offer an on-off switch for AI Overview. Content creator Ally Meeks said in a TikTok comment that she switched to DuckDuckGo because of data-center impacts on water, temperature, noise, and local farms.
More than 4,300 data centers operate across the United States. Users can test alternative engines by visiting their websites or downloading apps. On desktop or mobile, they can also change the default search engine in browser settings to DuckDuckGo, Ecosia, or other listed options.
