DuckDuckGo’s AI chat is here and it won’t spy on you

DuckDuckGo has expanded its generative AI offerings as its AI chat interface, Duck.ai, officially exits beta, according to a blog post released by the company. This development follows a year of integrating AI assistance into its product lineup.

DuckDuckGo launches Duck.ai: Free AI chat tool exits beta

The service, accessible at Duck.ai, provides users with AI-generated answers to their search queries in a conversational format. The AI models utilized include those developed by Anthropic, OpenAI, and Meta, with recent additions featuring OpenAI’s o3-mini, Meta’s Llama 3.3, and Mistral’s Small 3. While usage remains free, there is a daily limit on queries, and DuckDuckGo is considering a paid plan for users interested in higher limits and more advanced models.

In addition to Duck.ai, DuckDuckGo plans to enhance its traditional search engine, available at duck.com and duckduckgo.com, by increasing the frequency of AI-assisted answers. The company indicates that it currently serves millions of AI-assisted answers daily, with these responses appearing over 20% of the time if opted for in traditional search results.

Image: DuckDuckGo

Users can adjust how frequently they wish to see AI-generated responses, with options including “sometimes,” “often,” “on-demand,” and “never,” allowing for personalized experiences within the search environment.

Diving into a competitive landscape, DuckDuckGo’s enhanced integration of generative AI emerges as major players like Google implement similar features, including AI summaries in place of traditional search links. DuckDuckGo’s chief privacy promise allows users to access leading AI tools without tracking, offering a distinctive approach in the current tech ecosystem.

Image: DuckDuckGo

An essential update is DuckDuckGo’s AI-powered answer feature, Assist, previously known as DuckAssist. This feature, an enhancement to the existing Instant Answers functionality, now aggregates answers from various online sources rather than relying chiefly on Wikipedia. This aligns with broader trends in AI integration across platforms, exemplified by Google’s AI overviews and AI Mode using Gemini 2.0.

Image: DuckDuckGo

DuckDuckGo acknowledges potential inaccuracies in AI responses and emphasizes the display of sources alongside Assist answers. The company has established protocols to minimize the risk of citing spam or opinion pieces, aiming to present reliable information to users.

Image: DuckDuckGo

In contrast to many services requiring user accounts, DuckDuckGo’s AI features are accessible without needing one. Users can try Duck.ai for free and access the AI chat interface directly from the DuckDuckGo browser. The chat feature allows users to transition seamlessly between AI chat and traditional search modes, streamlining user inquiries.

Image: DuckDuckGo

Recent chats are stored locally on user devices, ensuring that sensitive information remains private. DuckDuckGo maintains that chats are not used for training AI models and are only temporarily saved by providers for operational purposes. The company has arrangements to delete these chats within 30 days.

Image: DuckDuckGo

In a bid to enhance user experience, DuckDuckGo has also facilitated easy navigation between traditional search and AI chat features. Users can toggle between these modes easily, with a dedicated chat button that auto-fills queries from previous searches, promoting efficient information retrieval.

This multilayered approach to integrating generative AI into its platform underpins DuckDuckGo’s commitment to enhancing user agency and privacy in their online searches while capitalizing on cutting-edge technology.

Featured image credit: DuckDuckGo