DuckDuckGo Records 18% Installation Growth Amid Google AI Backlash
Search engine DuckDuckGo reported an 18.1% week-over-week increase in US app installations between May 20-25, 2025, according to data released by the company on May 26. The surge followed Google's May 19 announcement at its I/O developer conference of mandatory AI-driven search features, which provided no opt-out mechanism for users. DuckDuckGo CEO Gabriel Weinberg attributed the growth to user dissatisfaction with Google's forced AI integration, stating that the migration represents actual platform abandonment rather than mere complaints.
The installation growth maintained positive momentum for six consecutive days, reaching a single-day peak of 30.5% on May 25. On Apple's iOS platform, weekly installations increased 33%, with a peak of 69.9%. Simultaneously, traffic to DuckDuckGo's search page—which disables all AI features by default—grew an average of 22.7%, peaking at 27.7% on May 24. Weinberg noted that DuckDuckGo's US market growth rate significantly exceeded its international performance during this period, directly correlating with Google's AI rollout timeline.
Google's May 19 AI Search Overhaul
At the May 19, 2025 I/O developer conference, Google unveiled updates centered on Agentic AI for its search platform. The updated search engine supports dynamic expansion, accepts complex natural language queries, provides AI-generated question suggestions, and processes multimodal inputs including text, images, files, videos, and Chrome browser tabs.
Google has integrated AI into search results since 2023, when it launched generative search experiences later renamed AI Overviews. These features display answers generated by Google's Gemini model at the top of search results pages. In 2025, Google introduced AI Mode, providing conversational search experiences. The May 19 updates expanded these AI capabilities without offering users the ability to disable them.
Impact on Web Publishers and Advertisers
Research firm Similarweb data shows "zero-click searches"—where users obtain answers without visiting third-party websites—currently account for 60% of all Google search requests. As of November 2025, Google's search traffic referrals to news publishers globally declined 33% year-over-year.
Alina Maria Stan, co-founder and COO of software review platform Tekpon, identified Kagi, DuckDuckGo, and Brave Search as alternatives that allow users to completely disable AI features. Stan stated: "When search engines no longer require the internet itself, the question becomes whether the web ecosystem can survive. If publishers lose enough traffic, they will eventually stop producing the content used to train and feed AI models."
DuckDuckGo's Market Position
DuckDuckGo, founded by Gabriel Weinberg in 2008, holds approximately 2% of the US search market share. During Google's 2023 antitrust trial, Weinberg testified that Google's exclusive default search agreements hindered DuckDuckGo's ability to market itself on other browsers. The company positions itself as a privacy-focused alternative to mainstream search engines.
Weinberg stated: "Google is forcing users to accept AI without providing any exit route. Their search results are getting worse, not better. We want to be the platform where users have real control and can decide how much AI they want."
FAQ
What caused DuckDuckGo's installation increase in late May 2025?
DuckDuckGo reported an 18.1% week-over-week increase in US app installations between May 20-25, 2025, following Google's May 19 announcement of mandatory AI search features with no opt-out option.
How much has Google's traffic to news publishers declined?
As of November 2025, Google's search traffic referrals to news publishers globally decreased 33% year-over-year, according to Similarweb data.
What percentage of Google searches are zero-click searches?
Zero-click searches—where users obtain answers without visiting third-party websites—currently represent 60% of all Google search requests, per Similarweb research.
